Grand Canyon - West Rim Trail - Trip Rep ort

“I'm back and I'm sure PS and Jackstraw are nearing home as well.

Friday night - met up with Phantom Soul in Enola, PA and started the night trek to the trailhead. Got to the trailhead in Blackwell around 915. As we were gearing up, What's For Lunch pulled into the parking lot. We chatted with him for a half hour and then hit the trail. Thanks again Gus for all your help.

The Mid-State Trail out of Blackwell traverse a very steep cliff along Pine Creek and is a pretty good climb too. Almost immediately I wasn't feeling so well and we had to make frequent stops. After crossing Jerry Run (right at the waterfall, neato) we could smell the campfire and after cresting a hill we could see it in front of us.

We hiked down the hill and into camp where we met, Crazypace, Icarus and Jackstraw. Set up tents and hung out by the fire for a little bit.

Phantom SOul and I walked down to Pine Creek and took in one of the most beautiful night views I have ever seen. The stars were out in full force and you could see the silouette of the Canyon with Pine creek flowing through the center of it, and it was semi lit up by the star sky. The snow on the ground added to the beautiful place.

Everyone then went to bed. It got realy cold Friday night. I set my tent up on an incline and kept rolling off of my pad all night long. I didn't get a very good sleep at all.

Saturday:

Got up and had breakfast and hung around the fire and then packed up the gear and said our goodbyes to CrazyPace and Icarus after they decided to head back. This left Phantom SOul, Jackstraw and me to proceed. Only Phantom Soul and I had snow shoes and Jackstraw was barebooting. So we got on the Midstate trail and started out for the West Rim Trail. It was warming up and was a really nice morning with a deep blue sky. It's a steady climb up to the WRT from Pine Creek, but very pretty. I felt better than the night before, but I still wasn't feeling so great.

After hiking up the Mid-State trail thru the beautiful Bohen Run Glen and past Bohen Run Falls we got to the West Rim Trail. The trail was broken by previous snow shoers which was really nice. Up on the rim the scenery was just absolutely splendid, even the parts that were back in the woods from the rim were really nice.

We got as far as Steel Run and then the trail was unbroken. The snow was over a foot deep and was like sugar. Only two of us had snowshoes and none of us felt up to breaking trail. It was also getting late. I wasn't feeling so well. So we decided to turn back. Jackstaw's family has a farm near Wellsboro and we decided to crash there Saturday night. So we then hiked back south on the WRT and then down the MST back to my car. The entire time my condition was worsening. We made it back ok and then stopped for dinner at a nice steak house in Wellsboro and crashed at the farm as planned.

This morning we got up around 830 and stopped at Leonard Harris State Park for some views of the Grand Canyon before hitting the road.

Phantom Soul and I stopped in Duncannon on the way back and did a small day-hike on the Appalachian trail up Peters Mountain to check out the Sesquahanna River Water Gap. It was very cool.

All in all a great weekend, a bummer our objective was not reached, however, we made the wisest decision and still had a great time. I don't know what was wrong with me. I hope I'm not getting sick.

It was great meeting What'sForLunch, CrazyPace, Icarus and Jackstraw. CrazyPace shared a lot gear with us before turning back, thanks alot. JackStraw, thanks a million for the hospitallity and thanks a million to you mother for allowing us to stay at the farm.

I'll post some pics shortly.

P.S.

Gus - the trail is great, super pretty. I don't have any criticism. There is a lot of Mountain Laural that has grown over Trail and tangles up in the trekking Poles.

The Wes Wim Trail is amazing and I can't wait to go back and do the rest of it. That area up there is probably the prettiest area of Pennsylvania (imho). We are already talking about a revenge trip. Phantom SOul may put one up for some time in September.

PSS. Pennsy you were missed, but thanks again for the logistical support. Gemini, you were also missed. Has your son been watching Rocky movies lately?

Looking forward to the Black Forest Trail trip in April!”

“Nice trip report and glad to hear everyone made it home OK. Sorry to hear about the illness on the trail, but these things happen every now and then. Now you can look forward to going back and hiking the best section of the trail you didn't get to see. Breaking trail along the entire WRT in 2 days in a deep snowpack with a winter pack is just too much trail in to little time. This is the type of trail to poke along a little and enjoy the views.”

“Great report, I enjoyed reading it. Looking forward to the pics.”

“I got home around quarter after 6, for I still had another 130 miles to go from Enola/Harrisburg, but all is well now.

Bummer we had to turn back, but I have no regrets about that decision. With only 2 snowshoers to break trail for possibly 17 miles (and I didn't bring any tails) and a barebooter, we decided pretty quickly that that would be a no-go.

I gotta tell ya -- the steak dinner totally hit the spot, as did the Irish Coffee and assorted other goodies I got with it. Even better yet, I couldn't have asked for better than the heated house and bed. We didn't bother to enable the plumbing (it was put on standby for the winter to protect the pipes from frost) for only one night, but still -- the heat and bed were very welcome. Thanks a million to JackStraw and his family for letting us crash there.

On Sunday, we stopped at the north end of the canyon real quick to take some pictures. Very nice views I must say; I can't wait to go back and do this whole trail for real. Soon after, ENS and I got back in the car and headed downstate to Harrisburg where I had left my car.

On the way back, we got this random idea to stop at US322 near Duncannon and hit up the AT for some quick views over the Susquehanna. Very nice views from there as well, even though people tend to talk a lot of smack about this area of the AT. (Perhaps the snow was covering all those evil rocks...)

A good time was had by all (for at least the time they were there). Hope all y'all come back out for the "Revenge" trip (coming soon to a "Trips" page near you -- currently looking at September), except it will not be called a "revenge" trip (at the request of ENS). But anyway, keep an eye out for it...

Pictures coming soon...
Piece!”

“from the Grand Canyon, and here are my pics from the Sesquehanna River Water Gap/Peters Mountain on the AT.
last edited: 3/06/05 8:11:28 PM”

“nice report and pics ENS. Too bad you had to turn around, but you know it was for the best.

I guess it was a good thing I didn't go huh? My sleeping bag would've not been warm enough.

hey...and there still is april...and it's gettin' much closer...
last edited: 3/06/05 8:20:39 PM”

“we had sub-zero temps apparently on Friday night. Word is it dropped to -2 in Wellsboro, so it was probably colder where we camped that night.”

“Nice pictures and the trail looks great in the winter. Saturday was a beautiful day with bright sunshine. The trail conditions look just like they are around here with a deep snowpack. I snowshoed up to Bald Mt. this afternoon on an unbroken trail with Msilver and we too turned back just before the summit. The air temperature went to 41 and the snow started sticking to our snowshoes really bad. Mine a little worse. It got to the point where it just wasn't fun anymore so we decided we'd come back another day. We did get to catch some views though.

I wouldn't be surprised if your campsite was -10 Friday night next to Pine Creek.”

“Fri.- Met Icarus at Pine Creek Outfitters about 3PM Crazypace soon followed. After intros and the realization we were all (Formerly) trolls LOL, we parked my car at the north end and headed to Blackwell. Had a bite at the local bar in Morris them headed to the trailhead. We missed Gus and headed up the cliff trail Gus described. It was quite a hairy climb considering the path was a foot wid and the sheer 200 foot drop to the creek Awesome!! We were hiking by moonlight and somehow missed the blue blaze for the campsite so ended up bushwhacking down to the creek. Pitched camp around 7PM.Had a blazing fire going soon after.
I was elated to hear voices around 10:30 and even more so to see a couple of headlamps coming down the hill. The coolest thing for me was hearing the winter wind howl through the canyon at night.

Kudos to Todd and John for giving it a go despite being under the weather. I takes a tough cookie to hack a sub 10 degree night.

Sat.- Barebooting in a foot of snow was tough, but the we kept up a descent pace all things considered. I expressed concern as to my ability to pump out more miles and when the trail became unbroken that pretty much cemented it. There is a thin line between bravado and foolishness and I didnt want mine to put us in a precarious position so we opted to head back south and headed for the farm. The Views were incredible as was the weather and the company.

Sun.- Woke and had a bite then headed for L. Harrison SP for some views. Headed home around 10:30AM

No complaints about the trail Gus except you may want to check on the blue blaze for the creek camp site.

P.S. Please see EnS's picks as my camera froze and became unusable.

All in All I thoroughly enjoyed meeting George,Rob,Todd and John and I look forward to hitting the trail with everyone again soon.”

“Nice pics, I need a good snow overnighter dammit!”

“I forgot my comments for WhatsForLunch. The trail was in excellent shape -- no major blowdowns or serious erosion or anything like that. We made it as far as Steel Creek, where the broken-in trail ended, and we decided we didn't have neither the capacity nor enough juice to break a foot of snow for 17 miles to Ensonia (sp?), so we turned back.

The only thing I really seemed to notice was the the laurels along the top of the ridge seemed a bit overgrown all over the trail, as I constantly found myself stepping on them and tripping over them (and they stole my snow baskets too -- little thieves ) Maybe it was just all the snow, but you may want to go check it out once the snow goes down.

Otherwise, excellent trail. In fact, we're already planning to go back and complete it -- there's a trip posted for September 2005 -- go check it out.

L8R,
Piece!”

“Nice pics Phantom Man.”

“So tell us Wob, how was the Wes Wim Twail?”

“I got back saturday afternoon took a shower and went right to bed. I slept until sunday 11:00. I'm so glad I didnt attempt to push on. On the ride home I had the chill's and really bad sore throat. I didnt unpack my gear till sunday night. Glad you guys got to see a little more of the trail. I'm in for the september return trip. I still feel like crap but made it to work.”

“that sucks CP - I hope you feel better soon. I had it really bad in January. If you feel better in time for the weekend, I am going to do some hiking on the AT. I want to go from 501 to Swatara Gap.”

“great report and pics. the views only get better as you head north. sept is a great time for the trip.”

“Did that section last oct. Not as rocky as most of the other sections, but decent views before Swatara. Good day hike. I may have to head back up to the canyon, check your e-mail for why.”

“Wow, sorry to hear so many had to bail due to illness. You made the right call if your sick pushing on would have made things worse for you physically and you would not have enjoyed yourself. Come back and give it another go. September tends to be a bit dry, there are reliable water sources to be found if you know where to look. As long as you don't go Labor Day weekend, we have a big event here then, I may clear some time and join you. Between now and then I'll tackle some of that laurel. Thats an ongoing problem for trail maintenance, it keeps on coming back! I usually don't do maintenance on the Mid State, they have an association that can do that, The West Rim has me and a couple of other vollies working where we can and when we can. Hope to see you on the Black Forest in April.

Gus”

“Gus !! I am e-mailing you something very important.”

“Great reports and photos! Getting sick on the trail is a drag.”

“Nice reports and great pics, guy. It's a shame the West Rim Virus took it's toll, but wise decisions were made. You made the best of it and had a good time anyway, and that's what counts. Besides, revenge trips are sooo much fun.”

“West Rim Virus??

Too funny!!

It could have been worse, they could have had the barfing schitts.”

“I know, seriously. How many revenge trips have we had on the Dixes now?”

“Hey, what is the situation on the blue blaze to the camp site? I know the overseer for the MST Association, a guy in Athens PA, and I can E-mail him to take a look out.

If it is beyond what he can do, MSTA/KTA has a volunteer work crew scheduled for June 14-19 at Twin Streams Campground in Morris. Free food cooked by Wanda (who was on Survivor for 20 minutes). Not sure if rattlesnake is on the menu though this should be the week after the local hunt. Check out http://www.kta-hike.org”

“There wasnt any blue blaze's. We night hiked in and walked right past it. Had to backtrack and found it by accident.”

“That could be a problem! I will let them know.”

“yeah, I don't remember seeing any blue blazes on the Blue Blaze Trail. The campsites along the trail rock though.”

“No blue blazes to be seen, but the smell of a roaring campfire is kinda difficult to miss when you're walking thru the woods...”

“It would be great if they could remark it. There lies a swampy area between the MST and the Campsite. It wasn't a problem as the ground was frozen : ).”

“This crew is going to be next door to me for a week? Oh now I am going to have to look into this!

Gus”