Back in February I decided I needed a
backpacking trip with the guys, so I said "Guys we need a
backpacking trip!" The guys
agreed.
Fast forward to April and the trip
was fast approaching. Unfortunately I had little time to plan
or even hand-off planning. I considered bailing entirely,
but Jen said no. Jen said I needed time in the woods - two
nights to be exact, so I threw together an AT (Appalachian
Trail) trip here in PA.
I picked section seven (a.k.a.
Swatara Gap) of the AT PA trail system. This section
includes St. Anthony's Wilderness - the
second largest roadless area in PA (14,000 acres). I've
been to the area twice before. Once in March with Jeff in
1998 and once in June with Jen in 2003. Turns out Jay and
Chris had been there too, but we were all so desperate to
get in the woods, none of us cared. Friday afternoon we all
piled into my Durango rental and headed
west.
|
|
|
We left late and didn't get very far on
the trail before setting up camp. It was fairly warm, so we
sat in the dark talking, listing to the helicopters of Fort
Indiantown Gap and watching lightening flash across the sky
(lightening was our best guess).
This was Gretchen's
first camping trip. I really had no idea how she would
do. My biggest concern was tent time. CJ generally
doesn't like Gretchen getting too close. In my two-man tent,
there wasn't much of a choice. Luckily, Gretchen got in and
went right to the back. Each laid down and that was
it.
|
|
|
|
The morning was a
problem
. Soon after
the sun was up, they wanted out, so I let them go. By the time
I got my clothes and boots on and got out of the tent,
they were gone. I listened for the jingle of their
collars, but heard nothing. I walked over to the trail and
looked both ways. Way, way, way up the trail CJ was heading to
who knows where with Gretchen in tow. It wasn't like they were
meandering either. He was on a mission and she was
following.
He'd never done this
before.
I started after them. A
little ways away from camp I started whistling
and calling their names. Gretchen stopped to look back,
but otherwise continued with CJ.
What the
hell?
I kept following, then I
started running. Eventually I caught up to them or at
least to the point where CJ realized I was following and also
realized he screwed up. With his head down and eyes averted,
he came back in my direction close enough for me to grab his
collar and take him back to camp. From that point on, he
remained leashed. I've never had to do that
before. Don't know if he was showing off or it was
just a senior moment, but it was annoying
none-the-less.
Back at camp I fed them
breakfast in their origami camp
bowls.
|
|
|
While they were eating I noticed this cool
birds nest in a nearby
tree.
|
|
|
|
Time for me to have breakfast and use my
own plastic origami
bowl.
So the coffee was instant, at
least I had some.
|
|
|
|
Jay and Chris had coffee too. CJ remained
leashed to the
tree.
GPS
coordinates: N40 29.739 W76
33.461
|
|
|
Jay and Chris putting on their "spring
gaiters" before heading out. I thought they looked like spats.
Technically I think they
are.
|
|
|
The only photographed
wildlife of the
trip
. Can you believe Petsmart charges $100 to
buy one of these
guys?
|
|
|
|
A shot of
Stony Creek which runs all the way to the Susquehanna river.
When Jen and I were here in 2003, we camped a little
ways up the trail on the
left.
GPS
coordinates: N40 29.717 W76
35.381
|
|
|
Not far from Stony Creek is an old
cemetery for the village of Rausch Gap. The three marked tomb
stones are from
1854.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- More
-
|
|
