Jmitch is a Bonehead, Part 2- TR

“First it was hiking the AT on saturday, when everyone else went sunday a few weekends ago. Now this.

I went up this weekend to the Allegheny Nat'l Forest to see a buddy and do some hiking.

On Saturday, I decided to hike the Morrison Trail, one of my favorites. It began warm and sunny, with little snow on the ground. What was left soon melted. The trail is a loop with a cross connector; I decided to do the longer loop- the 9 mile Rimrock Loop.

Morrison is a great trail- it's only a 13 mile loop, but packs a lot of scenery. There are cascading streams, massive house-sized boulders covered in carpets of moss and trees growing on top, views of the Allegheny Reservoir, and access to the Morrison Campground on the reservoir- which you can only hike or boat in.

The loop begins easily as it explores a hardwood forest with laurel. It descends long Campbell Run with boulders and cascades. Near the bottom of the glen, it enters a hemlock forest. I decided to bushwhack down to the reservoir- awesome place. I entered an old-growth forest with huge boulders and great views of the reservoir- and many awesome campsites. I climbed one massive boulder to eat lunch.

When I was done, I checked my fannypack I borrowed from my buddy for my keys and wallet. Found wallet, but no keys. I searched around for the keys, no luck. I was sure I left them in my car, and I knew I left one door unlocked, so I began the trek back to the car and finish the loop.

The forest was awesome as the trail wound between boulders and entered a hardwood forest that descended to the campground. I passed two other hikers and said hello. I followed the trail up beautiful Morrison Run and hiked up the cross connector- awesome trail with more huge boulders and many cascades. I finally got back to the car.

I looked frantically, but no keys to be found.

I backtracked on the loop a bit, looking for the keys and hoping to run into the other hikers, but no luck. I hiked five miles. It soon got dark and I returned to the car.

The trailhead is isolated, so I sat there and cleaned my car. I was exhausted.

It grew dark and very misty and soon I saw the flickers of headlamps in the woods and the other hikers appeared. I explained my dilemma and they offered to give me a ride to my buddy's place. Very nice people who love to hike.

I got back and said thanks to the hikers and got an address to mail a book. I told my buddy what happened- he was about to go looking for me. He then inspected his fannypack and found...

My keys. They slid from the main compartment through a tear into the waistbelt. I had my keys the entire time.

So, the next day, my buddy gave me a ride to get my car.

I'm sure there's a lesson to be learned, but I'm not quite sure what it is yet.

Here's info on the trail: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/allegheny/recreation/hiking/morrison/”

“lol good story..”

“the lesson is to screw a spare key under your tag or elsewhere unobvious or to carry two sets of keys like I do”

“If anything, it's safe to say you have never carried a purse.

Glad it worked out ok. No more fannypacks for you. ;)”

“Oh Brother!!!”

“So, Jmitch, are you going to change your name on Trail Talk to 'Bonehead'? Actually, I worry about that exact same thing happening to me everytime I head out for a hike alone. I'm always checking my pocket, just to make sure my keys are there, and freaking out when I think they aren't, just to discover that they're in my other pants pocket.”

“Mitch is rapidly climbing up the bonehead food chain ladder. Lookout EarthNsky, he's bucking for your position as Top Bonehead.

I have keyphobia and always have a spare planted somewhere. That came in handy a few winters ago when I lost my keys in the snow in the Adirondacks.”

“I'm pretty sure the lesson learned is, don't wear a fannypack...ya sissy!!!”

“Been there done this! Was driven back from my trek to my car and left there. Searched the top pocket in my pack where I thought I put the keys, not there. Searched every pocket in my pack, not there, searched inside of my pack, not there. Emptied out entire pack, not there. Searched self, not there. (yeah, I'm thinking that too! :O) Called my son to come get me, fortunately only 5 miles away. Waited an hour for him to get off of work. Got home finally, cleaned out pack. Keys? In the stupid top pocket where I originally thought they were!!! Still have no idea how that happened!

What have I learned? To use the little hook inside of the top pocket that is for hooking keys on!”

“A couple of weeks ago we ran out of the house, deciding on the spur of the moment to go for a hike. We ran several errands afterwards before going home. My husband then discovered that the flash drive he had dropped in his pocket that morning was missing. On the flash drive was ALL of our financial information, including a cheat sheet to go with our wills that listed all bank accounts, credit cards, ID numbers, passwords, etc. Panic time.

Although it was dark, we went back to the stores that we had visited after our hike - no luck. The next day we drove back to the trailhead. Sure enough there was the flash drive in the middle of the parking lot where it fell out of his pocket when he got out his keys. Someone had run over it, so it is no longer useable, but at least no one else was able to access the information.

Ever since then, every time we leave the house I tell him, "Check your pockets."”

“LOL JMitch! That's a good one.”