Ricketts Glen- trip report

“this sunday i was driving through scranton to do some shopping when i started to get ticked off at humanity, as i usually do. too many people, cars, development, stores, pollution, urban sprawl, freeways, walmarts... of course, i was encouraging all of that by just being there.

so i decided i needed a quick trail fix. what better place to go than ricketts glen?

i drove home, got lunch, laced up my boots, and went to ricketts glen. i got out of the car at the trailhead to be surrounded by the sweet smell of hemlocks and gushing water.

much of the trail was still snow and ice covered, but the water was very high. i walked among the ancient hemlock, amazed by cool ice formations receding into the stream. i hiked up to waters meet, all of the falls were gushing and absolutely beautiful. the gorge was filled with ferns and mosses revealing a verdant underworld released from the snow.

it was just so refreshing to walk in a forest that is completely unspoiled and untouched.”

“I think that area was under a flood watch. It must have been dramatic with all the snowmelt.”

“Good for you, jmitch. I know what you mean. A fine prescription for overdosing in the city.

I'm headed to West Virginia Thursday.”

“I absolutely love Ricketts Glen. Did you do the entire loop? Have you ever been down into the gorges on the other side of the plateau near Jamison City? There are some really neat falls there that you have to stream stomp or bushwack to. Lewis, Twin and Sullivan to name a few. Beautiful country there in the endless mountains of PA.”