where i'm going this weekend

“because recently my life has basically sucked, i'm going camping to one of my most favorite, beautiful, out the way places.

rock run, PA

1000 foot deep gorge, crystal clear stream that has carved into the bedrock with chasms, pools, waterfalls and cascades. side streams are filled with waterfalls. i plan on camping next to a waterfall, above a deep plunge pool. the beauty is magnificent.

i need an injection of nature. you all are welcome.”

“hay i just heard about this place last night. i heard its a very nice place to go for a day hike. I was thinking of taking the Cub scouts for a day hike this fall.”

“Sounds like a great place, what part of PA is it in?”

“But jmitch, what would the fifteen of us do to the serenity and pristineness of this special spot of yours? Where is you book, by the way?”

“Have a good time. I am cooking with my son in the Tennessee State Chili Championship (he is cooking in the Jr. division).

I would rather be at Sipsey, but his heart is set on winning this thing. Kids Rule!”

“Oh and I'm sorry that your life has sucked lately.”

“where: north of williamsport, near tiny village of ralston, along PA 14

why: a truly incredible place. i've never seen a stream so crystal clear, the pools have an aquamarine hue. awesome views of gorge from tops of surrounding mountains.

people: are all welcome, but the place deserves total respect because i love it.

mapleleaf: you gotta go, but few trails, must bushwhack, there is a trail of sorts along miners run, very rugged, tons of waterfalls. awesome place.

book: will be out january, rock run is included”

“Should be better there now, but two weeks ago the area near Pleasant Stream was heartbreakingly dry.”

“lyndy, were you hiking the OLP?”

“have a good one jmitch.

Saturday is a youth soccer day and family birthday party.

Sunday afternoon I hope to go scout out a couple more springs in the Sandias. Almost have my water sources together for a five nighter up there.”

“I'd join you, but I already have a trip planned in the Catskills for this weekend (the one I didn't do last weekend). The place you described sounds cool, and I still want to check out the areas with elk that you showed me. We must hike together again sometime this fall.”

“No, I wasn't hiking the OLP. RichB and I went out to the Susquehannock trail but I drove up Rt. 42 on the way. The creek that runs next to Rt. 42 east of Williamsport was almost dry, and it was a rushing beauty during June. We ended up changing our hiking plans because the whole Susquehannock area was so dry we were concerned that we wouldn't find water in any of the runs. Even the area in Hammersley Wild Area was so dry that the marshy areas between the many creek branches were dry and grown up with wild flowers. We had a hard time getting through because the bees were everywhere. Rich was very surprised because out by him, rainfall had been pretty frequent and normal during the summer.

Rock Run, if it has deep pools, should have water, and the rain the last few days should create a nice waterfall.”

“artex, i'm thinking of trips on the taconic trail (where ny, ct, ma meet) and thunderswamp trail in the poconos, i'll keep you posted, we'll hike sometime this fall. elk bugling is prime in oct, maybe november.

lyndy, richb knows about rock run. it always has water, maybe because its watershed is almost untouched.”

“I know that he knows the area, he has spoken often of it, but I haven't made it there yet. I didn't realize that it was mostly bushwacking though. That was where we should have gone, but I had three days so we were trying to do a trail further out, figuring that we would hit the OLP area during the winter.”

“Lyndy, I’m by Lake Wallenpaupack near Promised Land State Park and it has been very dry this summer. I can’t remember being bitten by one mosquito all summer long. This has been a good soaking rain, but we need a lot more preferably during the week.”

“So, Must Hike, did you start out in that area, or did you already make the move that gojo is talking about on his "move to the mountains" thread?”

“I mean "Cabin in the woods" thread.”

“Lyndy, we moved here 5 years ago this month from Bergen County, NJ and very glad that we did. We both grew up in Bergen County, so my wife was a little apprehensive about moving to the woods, but now when she goes back to NJ to visit her mom she can only stand it for a short time and says “I’ve got to get out of here take back home to the woods.””

“Jmitch, sounds like a cool trip, but I'll be working this weekend. The Moose bugling season sounds interesting, but what about the Donkey Man F'ing? Is that going to be in the book too?”

“Amen! Sounds good. Does she hike, by the way?”

“She likes to get out and do some hiking, we do that with the kids a lot here, but she’s not a backpacker. My girls want me to take them backpacking my oldest has been reading my old issues of Backpacker magazine and this summer at Girl Scout camp she took a wilderness survival course and loved it. They had to build their own shelters out of forest debris and spend the night in them.”

“Must Hike, that is great, I didn't know that they do things like that in girl scouts. My girls are going to be 10 and 8 soon. Are your girls much older?”

“They’re 10 and 12 (13 in November), Oh boy a teenager!”

“The club is going to be backpacking in Manistee National Forest this weekend.The weather is going to be great and so are the temps!

8)”

“Sounds like a great spot jmitch. Hope you have an enjoyable time.”

“I'm taking both trucks in for new tires on Saturday. On Sunday I'm going to go check out the local mountains.”

“Jmitch, I wish I read this thread earlier because I would have definitely joined you for this hike. I've been wanting to get back out to Rock Run and hike up into McIntyre since I fished it a few years ago. Hope you have a great hike and that things get better for you.”

“I checked two more of the springs in the Sandias today. About 8 miles round trip, fabulous trail, both springs are in great shape.”