Smithsburg, MD (USA)

Got up early and drove to northern Maryland (I-495, I-270 and US-15 to Thurmont - then west on MD-77). Parked near Smithsburg. Perfect weather for hiking! Lucky, too, since the word of the day was "ROCKS" (trail rocks, that is - expletive should be added while shouting). Even after finishing, I still felt like I was living a nightmare where I'm a mountain goat about to fall and bust my @ss. Started southbound where the trail crossed the road (just west of Catoctin Mountain). Hiked around 16 miles total - mostly flat, but covered with randomly placed stones that took all of my concentration to navigate. Saw very few people - only a few day hikers and Boy Scouts near the roads and the scenic Annapolis Rocks (which I visited two weeks ago). Felt good all day - even with the steep climb in the last mile of the backtrack. I'm almost done with MD now! Starting near Shenandoah National Park, I have now hiked almost the entire section through to the Pennsylvania border. I hope to finish the Roller Coaster section (near US-17) before it gets cold and then I'll have a continuous 100+ mile section. Drive home was pretty easy but it is starting to get dark earlier... Total today = 8.06 miles (not counting backtrack) / Grand Total on A.T. = 141.97 (with correction).