After hiking the Pinchot Trail Saturday, I spent the very next day on the Tuscarora Trail with Sophie the Wonder Dog, and her Human concierge.
We hiked about 9 miles through icy wind and snow squalls, then we passed a hunting cabin where some classy fellows decorated the trees with women’s undergarments.
25 miles down, 773 to go!
Saturday, Apertome and I hiked the north loop of the Pinchot Trail.
We had some wet weather to contend with, which afforded me the opportunity to try out my new poncho.
We had pretty miserable conditions, but the poncho kept me dry, except for my legs, which got thoroughly soaked in an outright downpour near the end of the hike.
I foolishly packed my camera down in the bottom of my pack, so I didn’t get any pictures, but Apertome did.
I’m particularly pleased with the smart fashion statement the poncho makes in the woods. Very “Odhinnic-Wanderer chic,” with just a hint of un-dead superhero.
Fashion aside, it was a very nice hike despite the weather. It put me 10 miles closer to the State Forest Hiking Award. 14 miles down, 784 to go!
Apertome has posted a nice write up of the day on his blog. I don’t think there’s much I could add to his account.
Look what arrived in the mail today. According to the customs declaration, it’s a key-chain from Hong Kong.
It wasn’t a key-chain at all, it’s a Trockenbrenstoff-Kocher!!
The kitchen scale says it weighs 3/8 of an ounce. That rocks!
The old-school esbit “trench heater” type stove weighs 3-1/8 ounces.
“Big Deal,” you say, “that’s only saving you 2.75 ounces!”
Well, that means I can bring along a whole extra pack of Ramen Noodles, smartass!
This morning, I donned my spiffiest hiking hat, and began my effort to hike all 798 miles of the State Forest Hiking Trails System.
I hiked the Rocky Knob Trail in the Michaux State Forest.
The trail is a fairly easy 4 mile loop. There’s only one real climb, and you are rewarded for your labor with a nice view.
If you look carefully, you will notice that the leaves are falling here in Pennsylvania.
I took my GPS along, and now the Rocky Knob Trail is in OpenStreetMap.
4 miles down, 794 left to go before I get my ceremonial walking stick.
Brandi and I were voters #60 and #61 this morning.
In other news:
Holy Shit, Elk County!!!! Those are some progressive Elks up there!
