It was a beautiful day for an FKT attempt. I parked in downtown Duncannon outside of “Kind of Outdoorsy” and was shuttled by Mike to Scott’s Farm. The route is defined by two major climbs, separated by a run through farmland. After the second climb comes a long, rocky ridgeline, followed by a steep descent into Duncannon and a final half-mile road run to the Doyle Hotel. I had done this route before when I thru-hiked the PA AT, but I had forgotten how tough the climbs were—and how rocky the ridge could be.
I started at 9:30 a.m. The first three miles are very runnable, despite a gradual false flat leading to the base of the first mountain. I crossed the newly repaired bridge that had caused a trail detour the last time I section-hiked this area, then went through the tunnel under Rt. 944 (see picture). I was making good time and hitting my planned mile splits. Early in the first climb, you pass the famous “rusted car” sitting inexplicably in the middle of the forest (see picture). The climb was steep, with no switchbacks until near the top. My pace slowed, but I still felt strong. At the crest, you pass the side trail to Darlington Shelter. I had stopped there for lunch on a previous hike, but there was no time for a side trip today. The descent was mostly fast and runnable. Once you break out of the trees into farmland, you know you’re getting close to the Rt. 850 crossing.
The field run continues for about a mile on the other side of Rt. 850 before the trail reenters the forest and crosses a stream. I remembered that the stream marked the start of the second climb. I was still on target, but things began to unravel heading up the second mountain. Once again, the trail goes almost straight up with very few switchbacks. At the ridge, the rocks begin, and my pace slowed from the footing and accumulating fatigue. By the gas-line crossing, you’re about nine miles in, with roughly five miles of rocky ridgeline ahead, followed by a steep descent and road run. The gas-line crossing was heavily overgrown from the spring and summer, with waist-high vegetation making the trail difficult to follow. Ticks were also a concern. The rocks made it hard to find any rhythm, and I began falling behind my planned splits. Fortunately, the buffer I had built in the early miles kept my sub-four-hour goal within reach.
As the ridgeline continued, I shifted more and more from running to speed hiking. I passed Cove Mountain Shelter and eventually reached Hawk Rock, with its terrific views (see picture). From Hawk Rock, it’s a steep drop into Duncannon. This is where the wheels fell off. The descent to the road was brutal. I threw in a 29-minute mile and was basically praying for the road to appear. Halfway down, several trails intersect, so you have to pay close attention to navigation. Then, just to be cruel, the AT heads back uphill for about 200 yards. I let the AT gods know I didn’t appreciate it. Finally, I reached the road and tried to make up some lost time, although by then it was more shuffle than run. A right turn onto Duncannon’s main street led to one final sprint to the Doyle Hotel.
For my first FKT attempt, I was happy with the effort, if not the time. The Female Unsupported time set by Katie O’Regan is incredibly impressive over that terrain. I had no expectation of beating it. My goal was simply to break four hours, but the rocky ridgeline and final descent put an end to that.
Still, it was a strong effort on a tough stretch of the Appalachian Trail—and a good first experience taking a shot at an FKT.