May 1999

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May 1999 (during very dry MDBO-12)
West Rim Trail from Turkey Run to ??

X-treme hiking! The West Rim Trail was voted the best trail in Pennsylvania, and it's no wonder with the Pine Creek Gorge running through it . . .

Bear decided that, since we couldn't canoe on this trip, that we should do a little hiking. I was completely unprepared for what he took us through.

Turkey run has a spectacular waterfall about a fifth of the way up the hill, and I'm sorry I didn't have a camera. I intend to recreate this hike just to get some pictures of it.

After the waterfall, which creates a little boxed in cavern, Bear decided to head to the top of the hill using an "alternate" route. I thought he was crazy, but when I saw him scamper up that 75 degree incline, I figured, "If he can do it, I'll be damned if I can't!". Joe followed suit, despite some ligament damage in one of his knees.

We had no equipment, and this hill was so steep that you couldn't stand without holding onto a tree. I am not exaggerating one bit when I say we should have had ropes to climb this thing. Anyway, we managed to get to the top of this 1900' hill after a few hours, and reached the West Rim Trail about 3 miles from camp. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular, and I'm not talking about the girls Joe and Bear tried to pick up!

Getting down the hill at the trail's end was nothing short of back-breaking, and despite some old railway switchbacks, it took us almost as long to get down as it did to get up.

I learned a few things on this hike:
1. be prepared.
2. if Bear can do it, you can do it!
3. waterproof boots are not good for hiking.
4. bring more water than you think you'll need

Pine Creek Gorge
Click for larger image