When I informed my childhood friend Chetan, who was visiting from India, that I was planning a weekend section hike (#4) on the AT in Pennsylvania, he eagerly expressed interest in joining me. However, he had never backpacked before and didn't possess any backpacking gear.

Though I had a spare sleeping bag and pad, I lacked an extra backpack. En route to the trailhead, we decided to make a stop at a big-box store to purchase one. Despite searching through several Targets and Walmarts, we couldn't find what we needed. Nearly ready to give up hope, we stumbled upon one last Walmart. Thankfully, they had a suitable backpack in stock, providing us with immense relief.

Upon finally arriving at Pen Mar Park around 10am, we parked our car in the overflow lot and began our northbound hike.

After walking a quarter mile, we reached the Mason-Dixon Line and took the obligatory picture at the Maryland/Pennsylvania border.

The Mason-Dixon Line, established in the 1760s, serves as the historical boundary between the northern and southern United States. Named after the surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, this demarcation line was originally drawn to settle a border dispute between the colonies of Pennsylvania and Maryland. Beyond its significance in American history, the Mason-Dixon Line symbolizes not only a geographical divide but also a cultural and historical one, marking a boundary between different regions and ways of life within the United States.

After hiking for approximately 5 miles, we arrived at Deer Lick Shelters, two small shelters constructed side by side with a combined capacity of 8 people. Luckily, the shelters were situated along the trail, so we decided to stop here for a lunch break.

Today on the trail, we encountered numerous ferns, which belong to a class of nonflowering, herbaceous vascular plants characterized by true roots, stems, and complex leaves, reproducing via spores. The remainder of the day consisted of an easy hike, punctuated by occasional rocks along the path.

We arrived at the Tumbling Run Shelters late in the afternoon. It wasn't our original plan to stop for the day, but when we saw how beautiful the shelters were—neat and clean, equipped with all the trail amenities such as a privy, a nearby stream for water collection, a separate area for cooking and eating, and most importantly, the two shelters labeled as "snorer" and "non-snorer"—we decided to call it a day and opted for the "snorer" section (at least no one would complain about our snoring tonight).

In the evening, the caretakers of the shelter came to visit with their dog. They have been volunteering to maintain the trail since 1991. The trail is still thriving because of such volunteers for nearly 100 years. Many thanks to everyone who takes care of our beloved trail.