Pine Creek Gorge

Bryan and I hiked the West Rim Trail in the Pine Creek Gorge, which is in Ansonia, PA.  The West Rim Trail is 30 miles from one end to another and it has great lookouts and camping, it is high above the Pine Creek but you can still hear the river roaring as you hike along the rim.

We had quite an interesting trip!  The first day we missed a trail blaze on the tree, which marks the trail, and hiked six miles out of our way.  We eventually found our way back onto the trail and made camp just before nightfall.  There are pictures in the link that show our campsite.  The campsite was next to a little feeder creek so we were able to take a very cold night time bath, and have a good source of water for the next day.

The second day we headed out and made a stop for water and as we were filing up a bladders (a large container for water that goes inside our backpacks) mine broke and so I lost my main source of water supply.  Bryan was nice enough to share his and we carry Nalgene bottles with extra water for just that reason.  This is the same day that my camera decided to stop working, which is why there aren't a lot of pictures.

We had a nice hike that day that was pretty uneventful and easy!  That being said we decided to hike about 1.4 miles and 1000ft decent to the Pine Creek River in order to spend our last night listening to the water and be able to wake up next to the roar of a river and the sight of birds!  It was a great idea except that it took longer to decend than anticipated and we made our final 50ft/100ft decent in the dark, which was also VERY steep.  I slipped and fell a handful of feet, Bryan caught me, what a good husband!! I wouldn't have gone to much further, but I would have a lot more bruises than I do right now!!

I was more than ready to go to bed once we set up our tent!!! Happy that the next day we were going home.  However, the next morning I woke up to the most beautiful scene of a roaring river and birds flying and it made the trek thus far totally worth it and I wanted to stay out another day.

Bryan and I assessed our pending ascent backt the West Rim Trail and decided to instead ford across Pine Creek to a trail on the other side that would lead back to our car.  I must say that if you have never forded a river (and you hike or backpack) you should!! It was one of the coolest things I have ever done (which either makes me boring or exciting!!).  Working with nature to get to your destination.

We eventually made it to our car only to drive to the nearest resturant and eat as much as we could hold.

I am having a reoccuring problem with my feet when we do these long hikes.  I have been through 3 pairs of boots, numerous types of socks, and I still have problems.  Some problems are consistent and some are new each time.  A few blisters here and there are part of the deal, but the problems I am having are things that cut trips short.  I would really appreciate any recommendations that you might have that would help me.
Bryan and I are doing part of the Appalachian Trail (AT) with my Dad in October, and I would really like to fix most of these problems by then.

There are some pictures of our trip linked here for your enjoyment.  Let me know if there are any cool places you have hiked or backpacked.

Pine Creek Gorge 2010

Pictures

To those who are interested here is a couple of links to some pictures that I have taken over the past couple of months. There is a video of Linus singing as well.

August 2010

MichiganKara and Scott's Wedding

There are more to follow when I blog about my recent trip with Bryan to Pine Creek Gorge, but you are going to have to wait for those.

There is a video of the dog, Linus singing and it is a hoot!  I hope everyone enjoys

Shenandoah Adventures

Bryan and I just spent 5 wonderful days in Shenandoah National Park.  We set out on Thursday morning and arrived at our site at noon.  We set up camp, went for a hike to see some waterfalls and then had a nice salmon dinner over the camp fire.

Bryan was very happy to try out all of our new backpacking gear, including the new stove and pans.  This was a good test run before we set out for our over night backpacking trip.

On Friday we saw a bear while hiking, it was about 30 yards away from us, it was amazing to see such a large animal in its natural habitat, I was glad that we saw him before he saw us.  We made a lot of noise in order to scare him off (after I got a picture of him). This little encounter also helped Bryan and I to properly identify bear poop, answering the old question of "Does a bear shit in the woods?" - by the way check the pictures if you really want to know.

The best part of our adventure was hiking on the Appalachian Trail, some of the pictures are on a bluff on the side of a mountain, which is on the AT.  We were hiking in the woods and then all of sudden the trees part and you see the most beautiful scenery that I have ever encountered.  It is moments like that (mostly expressed in nature - for me), where I know there is a Higher Power out there. This just further pushes Bryan and I to fulfill our dream of one day doing a thru-hike of the AT, from Maine to Georgia.

Unfortunately, I encountered some terrible blisters due to my boots (which will be going back to REI this week), therefore we had to end our camping/backpacking trip at a nice campsite at the Holiday Inn Express in Warrenton, VA. 

We have plans to go backpacking on upstate New York in July, if only my job would allow for weekends off, we would be gone all the time.

One month till Michigan!!!

Link to pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/simmo1k/ShenandoahMay2010?locked=true#

Stress and Balance

In an attempt to return to school to work on my Master's Degree, I have decided to take the GRE to bump my chances at getting into a better post bacholorette program.  I didn't anticipate the amount of stresss that I would be under while studying for this test. 

The moment I open the math portion of the study program I get an enourmous stomach that can only be curtailed with yummy treats! Which justs adds more stress.  I get angry because I cannot remember basic math concepts from middle school and because some of this stuff still sounds like Latin to me after all of these years. 

I desperately want to get into a school because I do not want to work at Starbucks much longer, it has been a good job up to this point, but it is not a place that I want to be much longer.  In addition, I crave learning and experience something that I am not getting slinging lattes for people who believe that they are better than I am merely based on what side of the counter they stand on (I can go into a whole rant on this subject).

Bryan and I are planning a hiking excursion to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia in May.  I am looking forward to spending quality time in the woods.  Unfortunatley due to his age and physical condition (he is fat) Linus will not be able to accompany us on this excursion, instead he will be spending quality time at Aunt Kim's and Uncle Art's.

Why do I wait so long?

I wait so long to post updates on my life, I don't know why. 

Things have been busy around these Delaware parts and as we come into the summer season I think they are just going to get busier.  Life with Bryan is better than I could have ever imagined and everyday I know that the best decision we made was to move to the east coast.  Of course, I miss my friends and family back home, but I am happy and that is what matters.

We are planning our summer and it should be pretty busy with a trip to Michigan, backpacking in Shenandoah National Park, I am going to SC for a wedding and my favorite girl cousin Meghan is coming to DE for a week. 

I live a charmed life here and I love it!!!

Maybe a will get in a better habit of posting my pictures and my notes in the coming weeks, but keep your expectations low.

Kerry

More Pictures

I forgot to post the reception pictures!!

JoAnn here are the pictures that you were looking for.

reception

Apple Pie

I did it!!! I made my very first, solo GRANNY SMITH Apple Pie. Bryan has been telling me for years that his Mom makes the best apple pie. At first I didn't believe him, because whose Mom doesn't make the best something, but after years of taste testing I can atest that it is the best apple pie. We cut into it last night and it met all the requirements. I am happy that I can recreate something for Bryan that he loves so much.