This Hike Makes it Okay to Eat an Entire Half-Gallon of Ice Cream in One Sitting
- Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:06am by
Scott Baker
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GARDNERS, Pa. (AP) — All sinew and muscle, Appalachian Trail thru-hiker Alan Downs figured it would be a breeze to down a half-gallon of Hershey’s chocolate ice cream. He plunked his money at the Pine Grove Furnace Store, took his carton to a nearby lake and tucked in. “If I can make it through this, I can make it to Maine,” he told himself.
With that, Downs began the Half-Gallon Challenge.
For the past three decades, long-distance hikers arriving at the midway point of the 2,180-mile Georgia-to-Maine footpath have made it a tradition to stop at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in south-central Pennsylvania and eat an entire brick of ice cream.
The reward: bragging rights, a small commemorative wooden spoon stamped in red letters with “Member of Half Gal. Club,” and quite likely an upset stomach or a nasty case of brain freeze.
AP
About 350 thru-hikers each year successfully complete the gastronomic feat, according to Don Ray, who managed the park store for a decade. But it’s not easy, even for trail-hardened hikers who can burn 4,000 to 6,000 calories a day and still lose weight while consuming vast quantities of food.
Former thru-hiker Jessica Lafortune recalled feeling heavy and lethargic yet a bit jumpy from the sugar high after polishing off a half-gallon of cherry jubilee. For the record, that’s 16 regular servings, 2,400 calories, and 112 grams of fat.
“You just want to lie down in the middle of the trail and sleep it off,” said Lafortune, 28, a former banker who walked the trail last year and now works for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.
She had no regrets, though.
“It’s a hiking tradition I did not want to miss out on. And I really wanted the wooden spoon.”
Nearly every thru-hiker has heard of the challenge. Many take it seriously, racing one another and timing themselves with stopwatches. Appalachian Trail lore says that if you finish your carton, you get it for free, but that’s incorrect: Everyone pays $5.95.
Store worker Barb Delgado believes that Neapolitan is the easiest to take down because it’s smooth and the flavors are varied. She considers the hardest to be cherry jubilee and moose tracks — because of the chocolate chunks.
Delgado is also a Half-Gallon Challenge purist.
“There are cheaters who melt it and drink it, which I don’t consider done right,” she scoffed.
Hikers are invited to record their successes in a black-and-white composition book in the store. Nearly all the entrees are signed with “trail names” instead of real ones.
“1/2 gallon challenge. Chocolate. As if that’s not obvious now,” wrote a thru-hiker named Gingersnap, referring to the dark-brown smudges left on the page.
“I told my mom about this challenge,” said another. “She was like, (Wobegon), you don’t even like ice cream. I still don’t.”
Moaned a hiker named Jukebox: “Mint chocolate chip down in 40 minutes. I’m gonna die, bro.”
Josiah “Mehap” Cilladi of Parkesburg, Pa., and Tim “Grasshopper” Trickel of Raleigh, N.C., had no such trouble with the Half-Gallon Challenge. Having just completed a 22-mile stretch of trail, they arrived at the Pine Grove Store at mid-afternoon Thursday and popped open fresh cartons of chocolate.
Josiah "Mehap" Cilladi of Parkesburg, Pa., finishes a half-gallon of Hershey's ice cream at Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Gardners, Pa. (AP Photo/Michael Rubinkam)
Grasshopper finished in 42 minutes, Mehap right behind him in 45, and they didn’t even soil their trail beards.
“That was not as hard as I expected,” Grasshopper said. “I could eat a cheeseburger. I could go hike another 10.”
At the lake, Downs, 23, a Clear Spring, Md., resident who goes by the trail name of Lemur, dispatched half his carton with relative ease. Then he started feeling nauseated, each melting spoonful of chocolate goo more difficult to get down than the last.
“Two months on the trail, and this is one of the worst days,” he said.
An hour and 15 minutes after starting, his carton finally empty, Lemur lay face down and spread-eagled in the grass. He hadn’t intended to spend the night at Pine Grove Furnace, but hiking to the next shelter was out of the question.
Thursday afternoon — 24 hours later — he was finally ready to resume his northbound journey. Lemur looked none the worse for wear as he hoisted his pack onto his shoulders.
“I’ll probably never eat chocolate ice cream again,” he said.
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KENTUCKYREDBONE
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 8:33pmIf they can do it more power to them! I kinda doubt they’ll get fat with that kind of hiking. Although if they did it still wouldn‘t be any of the government’s bussiness!
Report Post »publicuss
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 11:29amSorry, but it is only 56oz, not 64oz. Just sayin….
Folks, there are gonna be SIX MILLION unemployed with expired benefits this year. Go to the state/fed sites, do the math. 26% of working age Americans are out of work!! Not 9%, 26%!!
Report Post »MaddieT
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:14amI‘m surprised there isnt’ a picture of Michele at the end of the Hike just to remind you of what you should not reward yourself with. I have seen countless pictures of Michele and Obama eating everything from Hotdogs with everythng on it to ice cream to hamburgers , one of their best freinds is Oprah Winfrey, enough said.
Report Post »TheyCallMeMom
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:14pmThis is a neat story.. I will say tho, I can scarf a half gallon pretty easy, right now, at 40+ weeks, I could eat two of those. But not if I had to make the hike– 2 miles is my limit :) ~ off to see if there is any ice cream in the freezer now
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 6:30pmSorry, Turkey Hill, Vanilla with Black Cherries. And for a special moment, try it with cream soda for a taste sensation. Stuff is so expensive (quart and a half now instead of 1/2 gal), that I only buy on sale-stock the freezer, and make it stretch. But oh my, yuuuuum. Will have to try Blue Bunny if I can ever get it.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 6:10pmYou know how good everyone must smell there….:)
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 3:23pmThat would be okay if you didn’t have to hike the rest of the day. Food will drain your energy faster than anything when you’re hiking a lot. I always just eat the bare minimum until evening.
Report Post »zurie
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 3:03pmUnless the ice cream is Blue Bell ice cream this is a complete waste of time.
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:39pmGulping down a half-gallon of ice cream…all in one sitting…I’m not sure if my stomach would be able to handle such a mammoth task. But it looks like these two seemed to have managed to succeed at this mini-game (after enduring a punishing stomachache). I’m willing to bet all that ice cream will help them reach the very end of the Appalachian Trail, since the resting areas are few and far between.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:01pmbeen there done that i walked the app trail once when i was 14 over summer break and again when i was 22 with a bunch of friends
ahhh fond memories !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and yes, you actually calculate the calories from that icecream into your trek, so that is why they all do it …………..if not you will miss those calories later lol
Report Post »staythecourse
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:30amPsychosis…..what year? GAME83…Trailenders — baylor and fiona
Report Post »Frogginit
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:56pmDoes anything else you eat start out hard and then go soft? I like ice cream hard or soft, but eating a half gallon at one sitting would cause me to turn into a fountain of chocolate milkshake.
Report Post »moonpeace
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:40pmHere’s my dilemma: I absolutely love ice cream, but only when it is made with the finest ingredients. The cheap stuff you can keep. But as far as eating an entire half gallon, there is another problem…it goes soft before I can finish…and in my opinion there are few things in life as bad as eating soft ice cream when it started out as hard.
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:05pmwell we know where the inspiration for Homer Simpson came from OHHH Ice Cream
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:58amYAY!, SO glad to see the Blaze is not all that dire political based news all the time 24/7, which it sure could turn into. obama has polluted the entire world so much by inciting such violence, hatred and division across every category, every now and then we need to come up for plain vanilla air !!!!!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:55amjust wait til Flotus the Wonder Sow finds a reason to shut down the entire trail AND state park. how dare these fit Americans defy her little cartoon plate.
Report Post »His Lamb is Satanic
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:39amNow this news story is really important! the Blaze fiddles while America burns. This site reminds me of the cards in Alice in Wonderland “painting the roses red”……communist red.
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:59amI know….I gotta lot of Muslim hate to get out. Glenn Shillstein had a tv program about Woody Wilson’s administration puttting out propaganda against the Germans…That’s one thing I admire about Glenn…he’s consistent….Think outside of the box….Do your own research….Question with boldness….The truth has no agenda….I know I’ll catch hell for this….that’s ok….it needed to be said. I never missed a Glenn Beck show for years….He lost me months ago…I‘m to the point where I can’t stand the guy.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:59amgoodbye, obamatroll. maybe your shift here is over and you can crawl back up obama’s rear end.
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:27pmBurnthills…..Obama troll…..HA….Now that’s funny
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:34pmI watched Glenn Beck’s show because he exposed the Obama administration and the progressive movement for what it is and he(Glenn) brought to light some interesting history of our great nation…..troll?….not
Report Post »Chi-Fawn
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:38amEating a 1/2 gallon of ice cream after hiking kind of defeats the whole purpose of the walk. That’s an awfully big box to get through all at one time.
Report Post »booger71
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:51amWhy, by the time they get here, they have already hiked about 1500 miles. their bodies are begging for calories.
Report Post »LunchLady
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:54pmNo, not all all. They burn 4000-6000 calories PER DAY on their 2180 mile hike. Their bodies NEED the extra calories (including the sugar & fat calories). Most people who thru-hike the AT are not doing it to lose weight. One cannot meet the total caloric intake requirement for such an endeavor by eating so-called “healthy” foods in moderation. And, to THE BLAZE: thanks for the memories!
Report Post »Texas woman56
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:37amI could do this with homemade vanilla/ Bluebell ice cream. If you don’t get bluebell where you live then you are not living.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:37amOne Christmas in the 80′s I received a gift card for 25 dollars for Kroger. I spent the whole thing on Frusen Gladje‘ vanilla ice cream and Pepperidge Farm Brussel’s cookies.
Report Post »Back then 25 bucks bought a lot more merchandise.
It was a day to remember. Anyone else remember Fruzen Gladje ice cream ?
Rodster
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:34amYou can’t fix stupid
-Ron White
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:25pmI have to agree with that; for the most part each election we keep reelecting it into office in DC.
Report Post »orkydorky
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:20pmYou’ve got that right! ” Did that hurt, oh yes, give me another! “
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:23am“dispatched half his carton with relative ease. Then he started feeling nauseated”
Report Post »Reading this made me feel nauseated.
Steev
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:16amI LOVE ice cream, but me thinks this might be the part of the hike where i wouldn’t mind doing away with tradition. LOL
Report Post »dinadp
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:13amSadly, I can probably do this without the hike. As long as it’s Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Or Red Velvet Cake. Or Cinnamon Buns. Dang, maybe I should go for a hike…
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:21amI won’t eat BJ ice cream – Run by globalist socialist fascist supporters.
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:43amOnly Blue Bell from contented cows.Made here in Brenham.
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:51amSell what you can……………eat all the rest!! Love Bluebell!!
Report Post »Texas Hills Patriot
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:14pmBen & Jerry’s, no way!!!
Bluebell, any day, everyday! Love my Bluebell.
Report Post »dinadp
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:32pmCan’t get Bluebell where I live. Not can I find cool flavors like B&J has. I know, I‘m selling out but it’s ice cream!!
Report Post »Tusker
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 1:04pmDINADP, I hear ya, sorry you can’t get Bluebell. I’m a coconut lover and they have just out Coconut Fudge. Man o Man! But these hikers……. more power to them and whatever floats your boat. I say do what makes you happy. (I know I certainly couldn’t do it) :-)
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 2:14pmMmmmm…. red velvet cake….. Blue Bunny now has red velvet cake ice cream with chunks of yummy red velvet cake and cream cheese icing flavored ice cream. They made it in collaboration with Duff Goldman. I hate Wal-mart, but since they’re the only ones in the Tampa area selling it, I think I’m going to have to give in on this one and purchase a 1/2 gallon (or 3)…….
Hey, I’m pregnant! I’m allowed…… I think. :)
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:10amOr 2 chili dogs w french fries –
Report Post »Quick, call Moose-shelle!
TomFerrari
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:08amOr two chili dogs and fries – call MOOSEshelle!
Report Post »hersey10
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:14amI don’t need a hike to inhale a 1/2 gallon , the couch is motivation enough .
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:21amNice to see Obama hasn’t screwed with this tradition. Give Michelle 24 hours and I’m sure there will be a new food rule for state parks. C’mon 2012!
Report Post »CaptainKook
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:24amEven this story brings out the stupids.
Report Post »randy
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:31am@CAPTAINKOOK
Report Post »Yes it does, as I see you’re here…..
joe conservative
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:32amThey better not let Michelle hear about this! We all know what a health buff she is. Check out the Obama’s eating habits. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXvykO3qVF4
Report Post »hersey10
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:49am@Randy hahahahahaha YES !!!
Report Post »HUGGINGMYBABIES
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:50am#25 on the Bucket List!
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:01pm@Grandmaof5:
I figure give her and Cass Sunstein til the end of today and they will have 400 pages of regulations for the place dealing with the ice cream treat…just for that one part. I too will celebrate the day this one administration is gone for good from office.
Good morning, hope all is well in Fla today; hot one again here, allergies are better and kittie is still nuts as only a cat can be…normal.
Come by my gallery and see IN THE GARDEN 3, I would like to hear what you think of it when you have time; just click on the screename link and it will take you there.
Have a great day.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:12pm@NZKiwi:
Is there not mountains like these in New Zealand as well? Especially ones where there are major loads of fattening, delicious ice cream at the end?
Here is the link in regards to the China drought you asked for earlier:
http://news.scotsman.com/world/Drought-hit-China-to-reroute.6779716.jp
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:33pm@ grandmaof5
Report Post »Come by Publix after 5 and meet me in the deli and the get some piblix ice cream… YUMMMMM
Robert-CA
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:50pmHERSEY10
Report Post »Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:14am
I don’t need a hike to inhale a 1/2 gallon , the couch is motivation enough .
______________________________________
Exactly mmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Support Israel
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:52pmHERSEY10
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 11:14am
I don’t need a hike to inhale a 1/2 gallon , the couch is motivation enough .
Thumbs up on that one….
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 12:52pm@ RANDY
OMG CAPTAINKOOK is COOKED
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 2:20pmI guess a half gal o ice cream is better than downing a half gal of Jack Daniels…Oh to be twenty again…
Report Post »Cemoto78
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 2:25pmThis si a clear violation of the separation of ice cram and state, right Michelle?
Report Post »D0ntTread0nMe
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 2:48pmAwesome!!! of course it still isn‘t good for them to eat the much ice cream cause there aren’t any vitamins or minerals or fiber or, well, you get the idea.
Report Post »http://www.mythoughtsfromthemiddle.blogspot.com
sonseeker
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 3:15pm@ hersey10
Report Post »I was gonna ssay, I’ve done that without leaving the couch…sounds like there are a number of us junk food junkies here…lol
Rashomon
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 4:21pm“I was raised on the dairy bitch!”
Report Post »avenger
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 6:49pmtwo costco dogs,onions and relish on top and 1/2 gal. strawberry ice cream for desert.no hike needed… 5′ 11″ ,175 lbs……of course that is once in a while.
Report Post »waggie
Posted on June 5, 2011 at 10:06pmHow could anyone NOT like ice cream? I live for that sugar high…
Report Post »staythecourse
Posted on June 6, 2011 at 3:07amBeen there….done that. Best six months of my life! And oh, what a honeymoon :) It is a most wonderful experience to reduce all of your needs to just what you carry on your back…reduce your concerns to where the next water supply is and where you will sleep at night. And for those who decide to trek…don’t underestimate those southern hills.
Thanks Scott for bringing back wonderful memories.
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