28 Miles Later

In the Spring of 2009, I decided to venture out to a park a few hours north of Pittsburgh called Moraine State Park. I began worried cause this place was not my usual sort of park. I enjoy deep wilderness and jutting peaks. This was more rolling hills with the hint of civilization around every bend.
The trail I chose was part of the North Country Trail system. From my previous experiences I thought 28 miles around trip should be easily doable especially this there weren't any mountains. I started the hike and quickly picked a branch off the ground to use as a walking stick. While not of mountain height, there was plenty of inclines and declines all along the way. It quickly came over me that 28 miles was not a good idea, however I don't like to fail when I put an idea in motion.
In the middle of the journey, I ventured along the edge of a lake admiring the view until of course I spotted the boats moored out disrupting the pleasantness of peace I had felt.
At the end of the 14 miles there was a visitors center were I planned to refuel my water. Well, it was closed and they had turned off all the water fountains much to my dismay. Luckily I ran into a kind lady who was leaving and had a half gallon of un-used water. I then promptly turned around to head to my car. It was growing later and I began to worry if I would be spending the night unprepared in this park. So as only I would probably do, I began jogging. This was risky in that I already was exhausted and would make for a bad situation should I fall. But it went smoothly, exhaustion hunted me and I had to take many more breaks to recover.

As you can guess, I did make it out while the sun still shown. However I was weary beyond belief and still had to drive back. I also came to understand why long distance runners might powder themselves. I was chaffed to the point of blisters and could barely move my legs at all. Even sitting caused a pain of its own, which was probably necessary or else I surely would have fall asleep along the drive. And hopefully we and myself have learned again the follies in preparation and mistaken beliefs of strength I possess.

Blackwater Falls State Park

This spring I was living and working in Pittsburgh. It so happened that the Friday before Easter is a holiday. I decided to take Friday and Saturday to go on a little backpacking adventure. Friday morning I left Pittsburgh headed south to West Virginia.

The trip was around two hours. I learned that America is more majestic and massive than I had ever considered. The plains and rolling hills in the gleaming sunlight, driving past the farmlands that built this country. I felt a little sadness for the death of the small towns and rural communities that can't compete in this economy or the still occurring urbanization of the USA.
A few miles before I arrived at the park I spotted a sight that had to be photographed.

The Windmills

As the photo depicts, as I was crossing over the mountains I came upon a wind farm. Let me just say this there is nothing creepier than the silent spinning of turbine as the wind blows by. It seems to have a foreboding of death, maybe that of the carbon dioxide from the great global warming crisis.

Soon after I arrived at Blackwater Falls State Park with only a little mishap in direction flaws (i.e. I got lost). I left my car at the lodge and hiked along the road to the start of the trail.

Right off the bat, the trail brings me to a stream that is swollen from the melting snow.The Stream and Wet Feet

Hard to tell from the picture but the stream rises to my knees. I did take off my shoes and socks and carried them across. Pictures also don't convey temperature, the water was freezing.

As the picture in the heading of my blog suggests I rather enjoy the extended view of the trail with the trees hanging over the side. That is the next pictures; it also shows the snow. Now this is mid-April, so when setting out on this journey I had no idea that snow would still be lingering around. I was obviously foolish and ignorant, as the rest of this journey will illustrate.

The Path

The hike was around two miles which is a good thing since I didn't have my hiking boots. The end of the hike was the shelter I would be staying in.The Shelter

In the above picture you can see the shoes I had poorly chosen to wear on this hike and the backpack I had decided to bring. This illustrates clearly the lack of judgment I had on this overnight hike. Instead of bringing a sleeping bag designed for cold weather, I brought one blanket. Due to the graphic nature of how I survived the freezing cold night I will omit that story. My friends who have heard say it is what Bear Grylls would have done, if it was a survival situation.
Continuing on, in the morning I was freezing cold and exhausted. As soon as there was enough light I began the journey back. To add to my distress it was raining, luckily I did have a poncho.
Instead of taking the exact same trail back, I went on the one that runs semi-parallel. Eventually I got the stream I where I had to take my shoes off, funny enough this trail had a bridge to cross it. Along the way the trail went through this rock formation.

The Rock(s)

When I get to my car, I realize there is waterfall and nice views around the lodge. So I check them out before I leave.

Above the Falls


The Falls

The Plaque

This plaque was around the back side of the lodge, thought it was pretty cool.

The View

This was the view (no not the crazy old ladies) that was hidden behind the lodge. There is more but pictures aren't as good as the truth.

That was the end of my trip to West Virginia. I did make it back to Pittsburgh in one pieces thankfully. Still one more trip from the spring in Pittsburgh to come. And then the rest of the world.

Beginning of a Journey

Well, I decided a few months ago that to the best of my ability I would try and explore the world. Obviously there is not enough time in life to ever complete this journey, but I can at least hit some of major places.
(Side note: not exactly the greatest at punctuation, such as commas)
I will mostly focus on nature and scenery, however some city landscape and architecture definitely warrants my visit. Each post I will try to include my best pictures from the journey. Here is what I have done so far.

Smokey Mountains (Spring '09)
Went on Spring Break with some of my friends and hiked the Appalachian Trail.

This is a stream along Low Gap Trail near Cosby

Me along the Trail

Truly are Smokey

A ridge on the Appalachian Trail

The rest of what I have already completed to come soon.