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