(Tentsite (mile 1,097.8) - Tentsite (mile 1,116))

I woke up this morning a little after 7am and was disappointed to discover that it was still cold and wet. It did not seem to be actively raining, but each slight breeze shed rain from the trees above and a heavy fog hung in the air. This was not exactly ideal weather for unreasonable levels of icecream consumption, but I figured there was still time for the sun to heat things up and dry things out.

After hiking a little over 2 miles, I reached the 1,100 mile marker. I am not sure what the exact mileage of the halfway point is, but in my mind it has always been at 1,100 miles. Technically, the halfway point changes every year along with the total length of the trail, which fluctuates as small reroutes are incorporated. I just know that this year's official total mileage, when added to the length of the approach trail, equals just about 2,200 miles. So as I stood gazing at the 1,100 mile marker, my only thought was: "Wow... I've really hiked half of the Appalachian Trail!"

After hiking another 1.5 miles, I reached a dramatic sign marking the halfway point of the 2011 Appalachian Trail. The sign seemed like a more fitting monument to the trail's halfway point than the small "1,100 miles" painted on a tree. I stopped for pictures and took a moment to reflect on what I had accomplished. I also considered how much still lay ahead.

In 3.5 miles I reached Pine Grove Furnace State Park whose general store was home to the infamous "half-gallon challenge." The store was open when I arrived, but they only had two tubs of icecream left. The flavors were butter pecan and coffee crunch - neither of which I wanted to eat a half-gallon of. The lady behind the counter explained that the icecream selection had been devastated by a hoard of voracious thru-hikers over the weekend. She consoled me by explaining that the icecream delivery truck should arrive in the next two hours. I decided to wait and used the time to dry out my tent and charge my electronics.

After about a half hour, what looked like a delivery van pulled up next to the store and I went inside to see if the icecream was being delivered. Inside I found a woman who seemed to be the manager or maybe the owner. I asked her about the icecream delivery and she said she was unsure when the truck would arrive. She then suggested that I just get four pints served from the icecream bar. That way I could get four different flavors for the challenge.

The first flavor I got was cookies and cream. I then took a seat on the store porch and began the half-gallon challenge. My first pint disappeared quickly and I returned to the store for my second. This time I got banana caramel. At this point in the day, the sun had still not emerged and although I was wearing my insulated hoodie, I began to shiver as I ate my second pint of icecream. The bananas and caramel went down much slower than the cookies and cream, but it too disappeared. Mint chocolate chip was my flavor of choice for the third pint. At this point, my consumption was slowing and I was feeling rather chilled. Fortunately, I had good company to cheer me on including Painless and Mr. Darcy. With their encouragement I finished my third pint and returned to the store for my final, determined to conquer the half-gallon challenge. I brought things full circle and selected cookies and cream as my final flavor. The last pint was a slog. As I neared the final spoonfuls, I decided I should find a restroom in case I got sick. I finished the last spoonfuls as I made it to the restroom, where I sat for a while. I was victorious.

I spent the next two and a half hours at Ironmasters Mansion Hostel, an old historic building which had been converted into a hiker hostel nextdoor to the general store. While there I charged things, checked my email, and generally avoided moving much. Pine Grove Furnace State Park is also home to the Appalachian Trail Museum, but unfortunately the museum is only open on weekends. At around 2:30pm I packed my things and made my way back to the general store. There I found Numbers - the tripple crowner I met a while back hiking with his mother. We chatted for a bit and he explained that his mother finished her section hike and he had gotten back on at Harpers Ferry.

At about 3pm I started hiking again, planning to do about 11 miles to a tentsite and stream. The afternoon hiking was pleasant and uneventful. I finished my audiobook for "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," which I greatly enjoyed. At about 7pm I rolled into an empty tentsite and took my time setting up. I ate my dinner in peaceful solitude and retired to my tent just after 8pm.

Tomorrow, I'll hike into Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania after 8 miles for a small resupply. Then I hope to hike another 14 miles to Darlington Shelter. Apparently, the weather forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon, so hopefully that will not be too unpleasant.

Half gallon challenge