Pennsy's BIG Adventure

“Soooooo, where are we goin' this time?”

“HaHa! Usually, when I see my name in a thread title, it has something to do with Fritz.

Wellll, the next adventure is an overnighter on the NJ AT.
NJ AT Trip Sept 14/15

The BIG adventure is Twigeater's Maine Trip in October.
October Maine Trip

You just missed a great Labor Day trip in the Adirondacks. You shoulda been around. ;o)”

“Pennsy, you gotta learn the difference between "once" and "usually."

And you should be more thankful to have friends like me. ;)”

“Careful, Fritz. Don't forget you owe Pennsy BIG time!”

“just kick him, he likes it...”

“How was the Adirondacks?

It rained all day Sunday and Monday in Baltimore.

I haven't had a pack on my back since finishing the Wonderland Trail July 29.

I'm taking two or three of the teenage boys to the Rip Roarin' Plains September 13-14-15-16.

You've gotta drag your butt down that way some time.

Oooooo, snowshoes......and the West Virginia Highlands.....hmmmmmmm”

“note to self: NEVER say "kick me" on a public forum.

Yo Tom T - the Daks were great! Read the thread and there are 2 photo albums posted. The weather was perfect.

Yeah - I'd love to drag my butt down that way. Sounds great!”

“yo pennsy, what kind of plan do you have for finishing your 35 next weekend?

i'll be driving to a dog show near binghamton every morning and then back home each day.

the way home will take me within an hour of ya. i'd like to meet up with you/ you guys. at the very least i'll get to be one of the first to say *congrats*”

“bump”

“Whatchyew doin' bumpin' my Pennsy Thread?”

“yo pennsy, what kind of plan do you have for finishing your 35 next weekend?

i'll be driving to a dog show near binghamton every morning and then back home each day.

the way home will take me within an hour of ya. i'd like to meet up with you/ you guys. at the very least i'll get to be one of the first to say *congrats*”
sacco
9:34:05 AM
6/17/05”

“Dang, I'm tempted to join those apes.”

“I don't have much of a plan yet. I have to see if I can get a site at Devil's Tombstone. If I do, I'll get up there Friday night. I need to do Kaaterskill High Peak and Bearpen Mt, both trailess peaks. The weather, time and how I feel will determine if I do 1 on Sat, 1 on Sun, or both on Saturday.

Yeah, I know it's vague but it's all I have for now.”

“okey dokey. keep me apprized.

don't know what i can manuever, might be just a campsite beer and a pat on the back, but i'd like to try.”

“I'm sure Gerry will have your spot available Pennsy. Dont act like you have to try, cause we know better.”

“pennsy's site maybe popping daisies by now.”

“jealous bastards.”

“if the golf cart is parked the whole time you're there, you may want to ask some questions.”

“how is your Catskills trip coming? you may have some TT company.”

“see the NC help thread. There is a dude looking for waterfall info.”

“I twisted my right ankle twice on the Pennsy loop tonight so I'm hobbling pretty bad right now. One way or another, I will be driving up there Fri after work. I have site 18 reserved for Fri and Sat.

I welcome any company but I have no real plan on what I'll do. I hope to head over to Bearpen early Sat morning and improvise from there.

I saw a similar waterfall thread 2 weeks ago. I gave a bunch of advice, including links but it went completely ignored. I'll pass unless someone specifically asks me.”

“There's plenty of waterfalls out here Mr. Pennsy!”

“Foot busted on the Pennsy Loop?

Nah, there's not rocks along those trails...”

“RICE”

“oh man Pennsy, I hope the ankle feels better soon. Dang PA rocks in Jersey!”

“We threw them over there! Ha ha!”

“man, this is just not your year bruce.

i think somebody must have a pennsy voodoo doll.

(i'm looking in your direction, lyra)”

“It coulda been Yam, she's a tricky little minx.......or so I heard.”

“You might be right MarkO. She might have very well put a hex on me as well.”

“maybe that's why she hasn't signed up for the fantasy football league yet.

too much time spent around the ol' cauldron and poking her voodoo dolls.”

“yeah, she does stuff like that.
I'm still in hiking mode though.
I used the RICELOB method.
Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, Lots Of Beer
last edited: 6/23/05 2:31:55 PM”

“Rice??

I thought maybe you bought a Japanese motorcycle.

Where's this Pennsy Loop??

OR is that what you become after a couple of drinks?”

“LOL Marko! The "Pennsy" Loop is an 11 mile loop in the Delaware Water Gap that I've done a few hundred times.

As for my "Big Adventure," I just finished hiking all of the 35 3500' mountains in the Catskills. Here's a trip report I posted over on Views From the Top:

Friday after work, I headed up to the Catskills and the Devil's Tombstone Campground, where I would spend Fri and Sat nights. I chatted with Gerry the ranger/caretaker for a while, and spent a few hours relaxing and reading by the fire. I was alone, but there were plenty of bugs to keep me company, so I didn't mind the heat coming from the fire.

Saturday morning, I was up early and headed towards Mosquito Point to do Bearpen. Last month I hiked Vly from Halcott Mt Rd with the intention of doing Bearpen as well, but a fast coming t-storm changed that plan. For this hike, I decided to start from the old Ski Run Rd on rt 2. For a "trailless" hike, this was about as easy as it gets. The first 4 miles follows a woods road and with only about 1600' of elevation gain, it was a nice stroll in the woods. It was supposed to be a scorcher, but the trail was mostly shaded, and combined with an early start, it was a comfortable hike.

Around 2.5 miles, I approached an intersection and a hunting cabin. I don't recall reading anything about a cabin, so I quickly got out my guide book. Hmmmm, no mention of a cabin, but they mention an intersection where I should swing to the left. A quick compass check told me that left was the correction direction, but I had some doubts if I was on the right path. Thankfully, 30 minutes later I emerged from the woods to the lookout where the old ski area used to be. I checked out the hazy views towards Hunter, and headed up into the forest to seek the summit. I never found a canister, but I think I read that there isn't one on Bearpen? Anyway, I took enough side trails and wandering around so I'm 99.9999% sure I was on the summit at one point.

It was a quick hike back down to the car, and I started to think about Kaaterskill. Woohoo, 34 down and only ONE to go!
I took a break and started driving towards Platte Clove. Starting from Platte Clove on the Long Path/snowmobile trail, the first 3 miles reminded me very much of the morning hike to Bearpen. For 3.5 miles or so to where the 2 trails split, it was a moderate 1100' climb. Again, a nice stroll in the woods.

The herd path that leaves the snowmobile trail for the final push to the summit was marked with a small cairn, well defined and easy to see. The path to the summit was easy to follow, but definately steeper than what I had been doing all day. The weather man was unfortunately right for once, and it was a real scorcher at that point. I was relieved to finally hit the summit because I was wearing down fast. I was pooped but quite excited that this was my 35th peak. The summit is wooded, and I thought about heading down the other side where there's supposed to be views, and than looping around the snowmobile trail. But I was low on water and energy, and I wanted the day to be a celebration, not a death march. Soooo, I did a quick victory dance and went back the same way, smiling all the way back to my car cheerfully greeting the other hikers I saw on the way.

When I got back to camp, I cleaned up and thought about dinner. It was hot, buggy, and I was tired, so I climbed in the car, drove to Phoenicia and had a nice dinner (and some Sam Adams) at Ricciardellas. It was a nice way to end a nice day.

Catskills down.... Whites next, with Carrigan planned as number 48 on July 16.”

“congratulations Bruce! Dang, I only have nine of the Catskill 35ers done.”

“Good job Pennsy. Hey, was Gerry's assitant still alive at that camp ground ? See any fresh flowers planted over an area... of say....the size of a body??”

“awesome pennsy!

too bad i missed ya.

you gotta finish the daks and whites this year for a NE trifecta”

“Bastards!!”

“Excellent Pennsy, I only have 31 left! I'm right behind ya! LOL”

“Pennsy you SUCK!!!! jking great job, I hope I can get mine next summer.”

“Are you guys doing any Catskills or Adirondacks or Whites Labor Day weekend?”

“i'm prolly gonna be locked in with puppies sept.”

“you gotta finish the daks and whites this year for a NE trifecta”
sacco

Yep, that's the plan, but it might be a quad, not a trifecta. I'm finishing the Whites with Artex on July 16, and should be finished with the Dacks by the end of August. The quad is the Northeast 115, 115 peaks over 4000 feet: 2 in the Catskills, 46 in the Dacks, 48 in the Whites, 4 in Vermont, and 15 in Maine.

MarkO - I don't know what I'm doing Labor Day, but it's the Dack's busiest weekend of the year, so most areas will be packed.

CP - hmmmm, I did see fresh flowers, an extra pickup truck, but no partner. Perhaps Gerry retired him.”

“You are insane, my friend!”

“I bet I can finish those New Hampshire peaks before Pennsy does. I’ve only got 48 more to go.”

“Got any wedding showers planned for Labor Day weekend, Zac?”

““Got any wedding showers planned for Labor Day weekend, Zac?”
MarkO
4:16:12 PM
6/28/05
ignore this user
LOL

Not that I know of. Hmmmm, I might be able to come up with some good hiking that weekend. Pennsy, which ADK peaks do have left?”

“congratulations--”

“That's a four-day weekend for me.

I want to escape from Baltimore!!

Aaayyyyyeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!”

“Devils Path ? That trail is torturing me. It must be reconciled.”

“I wanna go somewhere BIG that weekend!!”