Trip #1: Night Hike through Palmerton Superfund Site, November 2010
Location: Appalachian Trail
# Days: 2
Miles Hiked: 7ish
Okay short trip, but was awesome. Rocket and I began the hike around 10:00pm. The Superfund Site is a ridge in PA that has been heavily smelted for zinc. As a result, the entire hike is almost completely bare. The climb out of Palmerton is just rocks. A mile long rock scramble to the top of the ridge. After that, low grasses and shrubs can be found, and an occasional tree. It's quite barren, reminds me of something out of a grim Dr. Seuss book.
Rocket and I night hiked a few miles up the rocks and through the low grass, everything entirely lit up by the moon. We rarely turned out headlamps on. It was amazing! We set up our tent near a small grove of trees, and had a spectacular view of the city. Woke up, and hiked the remaining couple miles to the next road where we got picked up. That rock scramble is considered the rockiest section of the Appalachian Trail south of the White Mountains.
When we went through this section last summer, there were blueberry and raspberry bushes everywhere, so we are looking forward to going back this summer for some berry collecting :)
Trip #2: Catskill Mountain Cirque, February 2011
Location: Catskill Mountains
Mountains bagged: Blackhead Mtn, Blackdome Mtn, Thomas Cole Mtn, Windham High Peak
# Days: 3
Total Miles: 20ish
This hike also started as a night hike, taken with a group of people from work. Rocket was not with me on this trip, which is the first time in forever! :( This was probably the most difficult hiking I've ever done! Fresh snow had fallen before we arrived and began out hike around midnight. We snowshoed a mile in to the first shelter, set up camp (most of us tented), and set out the next morning breaking trail for most of the remainder of the trip.
Over the next two days, we climbed 4 mountains, 3 of them over 3500' (and are also among the top 5 highest peaks in the Catskills). The terrain was intense, steep, and icy. Could be considered non-technical mountaineering. Was absolutely amazing, the feeling of climbing those mountains, knowing all that hard work would get us to the top. As my first trip in the Catskills, I am definitely looking forward to another trip!
One thing I feel important to add is I was able to test out my new 0 degree Marmot Coloir bag, and I must say I love this bag. I am a cold sleeper, and have had problems in the past staying warm on cooler nights. Each night was in the teens, probably less, and each night I slept toasty warm. In fact, the last night I was warm, and slept in just my thermals. I would definitely recommend this bag to anyone thinking about getting it.
Trip #3: Appalachian Trail
Location: AT
# Days: 3
Miles Hiked: 25
This was intended to be a more relaxing trip on the AT for Rocket and I. Not a whole lot to say about this trip, we didn't climb any significant mountains, but it was nice to get out on the trail, carrying a few extra luxury items in our packs, not worry about hitting large miles, and could stop early, set up a nice camp, and just enjoy a relaxing evening in the woods.
The second day we had plans to go farther, but found an amazing campsite next to a beautiful babbling stream, and decided to stop for the evening. Both nights we enjoyed a wonderful fire, almost full moon, and a meal consisting of more than just ramen and instant potatoes :)
One thing we've learned is that we're both kind of addicted to backpacking, but in a thru-hiking setting. End to end hiking provides such a sense of accomplishment. Weekend backpacking is pleasant and can be very relaxing, but there's something special about walking the entire length of a trail, whatever that length may be. We look forward to more thru hiking, though our next hike or two will likely not be nearly as extreme as the AT.
Trip #4: Wittenburg, Cornell, Slide Trail
Location: Catskill Mountains
# Days: 2
Miles Hiked: 10.2
This was admittedly short for a 2 day trip, but we got a late start the first day and had plans to climb at least 2 more mountains, but due to poor weather, we cut the trip short. Rocket and I did an out and back trip, which isn't quite as fun as a loop, and we didn't have two cars to have it start and finish at two separate trail heads. All three of these mountains are over 3500'. Rocket and I are working towards being a part of the 3500 Club, meaning we climb all 35 peaks in the Catskill Mountains that are over 3500'. Since I took the winter trip, I have a few more climbs than Rocket, so he has some catching up to do :)
Not too much to say about this trip. We were hoping to hit a couple mountains via bushwhacking (walking through the woods without a trail, using a map and compass to guide you) and herd paths (an inconsistent unmarked trail), but we decided given the weather and whatnot to ditch that plan. There are a handful of the mountains over 3500' in the Catskills that are trail-less summits, and I am excited to tackle those soon.
Neither Matt nor I have a camera, so what photos we have from the last 3 trips we have taken since the Appalachian Trail we had to rely on our phones to take. Hoping to get a camera soon so I'll have more to share!
Trip #4: Wittenburg, Cornell, Slide Trail
Location: Catskill Mountains
# Days: 2
Miles Hiked: 10.2
This was admittedly short for a 2 day trip, but we got a late start the first day and had plans to climb at least 2 more mountains, but due to poor weather, we cut the trip short. Rocket and I did an out and back trip, which isn't quite as fun as a loop, and we didn't have two cars to have it start and finish at two separate trail heads. All three of these mountains are over 3500'. Rocket and I are working towards being a part of the 3500 Club, meaning we climb all 35 peaks in the Catskill Mountains that are over 3500'. Since I took the winter trip, I have a few more climbs than Rocket, so he has some catching up to do :)
Not too much to say about this trip. We were hoping to hit a couple mountains via bushwhacking (walking through the woods without a trail, using a map and compass to guide you) and herd paths (an inconsistent unmarked trail), but we decided given the weather and whatnot to ditch that plan. There are a handful of the mountains over 3500' in the Catskills that are trail-less summits, and I am excited to tackle those soon.
Neither Matt nor I have a camera, so what photos we have from the last 3 trips we have taken since the Appalachian Trail we had to rely on our phones to take. Hoping to get a camera soon so I'll have more to share!
Photos from the hikes up on my flickr
www.flickr.com/photos/theashface
I'll keep you updated better on trips I do in the future!
