Did it with a friend, pretty nice. Started at 6am and got to our car in Port Clinton at 6:20PM. Not bad, it was only our second time doing part of the AT(first time was 501 to 183).

Eagle's Nest shelter was very nice, that is where we ate lunch. Didn't check any of the springs as we brought plenty of water and didn't feel like taking too many side trips.

I'm sure we missed some cool stuff, and I'd like to hear what we missed!

The end got frustrating...we kept thinking we were close but it kept right on going. Plus the rocks. Arg. But Port Clinton was nice to see, going down the mountain was rough! Especially after being tired and having loose boots. That part right at the very end was pretty wild, glad we didn't have to go up it. This was a nice part of trail, only one really steep incline during the meat of the hike, and only about 150 yard incline. It was after the Eagle's Nest shelter somewhat.

We also saw a fenced in area during the one point in the middle of nowhere, pretty big with at trail leading towards it. Any idea what it is?

We also saw a fenced in area during the one point in the middle of nowhere, pretty big with a trail leading towards it. Any idea what it is?

Save for a short stretch where you crossed an NPS corridor tract, a longer portion of a few miles near Eagle's Nest Shelter on Weiser State Forest and at Port Clinton, you were on State Game Lands. You may have seen a food plot or exclosure where PGC or some researchers were trying to keep deer out.

I was on the same section you were today at the west end where I visited Rentschler Marker. I'll post an image tomorrow. You likely missed it, most do.

There used to be turkey pens near the road at about the halfway point of that section.
At one time they also raised pheasants (ring-necks) in them.
They being the PA state game commission.
There are about 20 fields that have been cleared for food for deer mostly. I don't think it worked though. Many more deer are shot down in the valleys than up there.

That section is my home-section. I grew up on it, jog on it, bicycle on it, cross country ski on it, and hike. About 20 years ago, they rerouted the trail off the dirt road along the ridge and put much or it in the forest. About 5 years ago, they logged much of the top of the mountain there too.

You can see my house from the lookout at Eagle's Nest shelter IF you know exactly where to look.

Glad you liked it. You must be from nearby. My house is on the top of the Schuylkill Mountain one mile outside of Haven.

The fenced-in area that you saw was on State Forest land in the Weiser Tract. That area was logged about 20 years ago, and I think (but am not 100% sure) that the Bureau of Forestry is trying to keep the deer OUT of that area during reforestation.

The old Game Commission turkey pens were further south and west of this location, but the area isn't visable from the trail. I don't think that the fencing is still in place anymore.

Nice area - LOTS of good ol' Pa,. rocks. There aren't too many views in this area - the Auburn lookout and the lookout at the Eagle's Nest Shelter are the only ones that are close to the trail. Work your way around to the Pinnacle and Pulpit Rocks - now THOSE are views!!

I'm sure we missed some cool stuff, and I'd like to hear what we missed!

You missed the Eagles' Nest Overlook (not to be confused with the Eagles' Nest Shelter) which is the only significant view to the south in that section, and is also where BMECC was founded in 1916. However, it is more than a mile away from the trail one-way, so it isn't essential, particularly if you went to Auburn Overlook.

You also missed the really scary descent to Phillips' Canyon Spring. I didn't, unfortunately. :(

The end got frustrating...we kept thinking we were close but it kept right on going. Plus the rocks. Arg. But Port Clinton was nice to see, going down the mountain was rough! Especially after being tired and having loose boots. That part right at the very end was pretty wild, glad we didn't have to go up it.

Yeah, that is pretty steep. We were inching down sideways when we got to the part that's just gravel near the end. My poor wife's calves and thighs were killing her. Then we had to climb down the stairs to the railroad and up to the parking lot. :mad:

At the end of a 24 mile day that started at noon, I got to that gravel part you were describing, slipped and smacked my kneecap straight into a rock. A real kick in the pants after a downhill that is not expected.