Greetings! If you've began to follow us, sorry for the long gap in posts - I was hoping to get this one just under the wire for June but it looks like it will be the first entry of July! This is Chris from the Wildernest here and I just wanted to let you in on one of my favorite parts of Pennsylvania when it comes to outdoor recreation. I'm talking about the Pine Creek area of northern PA. In this area there are opportunities to hike, backpack, camp, bike, fish and hunt. One of my favorite base camps to get this fun started is Little Pine State Park. Little Pine has modern camping facilities along with camping cottages and yurts. If you don't know what those are then I recommend you get on the PA DCNR website and check them out.
I said there are quite a few recreation opportunities, but of course some of our favorites are hiking and backpacking. If you want to get out and backpack PA there are numerous trails in this area: The Black Forest Trail, the Susquehannock Trail System, the Donut Hole Trail, and several other trails that aren't too far out of the region. And don't forget the Pine Creek Rail Trail. In my opinion, that is one of the finest rail trails around and a model of the development of other rail trails. If you've got several days to put together into an adventure, you can backpack the West Rim Trail on the rim of Pine Creek's Grand Canyon and bike back to your starting point through the gorge on the Rail Trail. If you're really adventurous you can go with the trifecta and paddle the creek down, hike up, then bike back down. I haven't paddled it yet but I have done the other two along with many other trails in the vicinity. If you have questions about any of those trails feel free to contact me or stop in the Wildernest for a trail guide.
But, for some of you, maybe backpacking one of those long trails isn't currently in the cards for you. Well, there are many other lesser traveled trails that you can hit for just an afternoon. That's what I did back in May when I took my three oldest sons (ages 6, 4, and 22 months) on a camping trip to Little Pine with some other friends. I've always wanted to hike the entire 9 mile Golden Eagle Trail (I've hiked a portion), but that's a bit aggressive for three young boys. With some research, I happened upon the Bob Webber Trail, a 1.75 mile one way up and back hike to a lookout. (For those that don't know, Bob Webber was a pioneer for several of our PA trails; he and is wife live in a cabin up in the Pine Creek area.) On Saturday afternoon we set off with some friends and their children. I carried the 22-month old on my back, but was a bit anxious about the ability of my four-year-old. My personal rule of thumb is one mile per day per year of age is a cap, and 3.5 miles up a steep hill and back down would be pushing it. I figured go as far as possible and turn around - I've been getting a bit wimpier the older I get!
Well, the six-year-old stormed to the top and the four-year-old just needed a bit of positive coaching; later on I saw there was about 1300 feet of elevation gain which certainly justified the coaching. An ice cream reward down in Waterville capped the hike for the kids. That's another thing I like about the Pine Creek area - lot's of outdoor recreation with some great stops for food and rest.
So, next time you are looking for some great backpacking or camping, go hardcore or take the kids and head up to the Pine Creek area. Look for one of those lesser-traveled trails and enjoy the trip! If you had any more questions about the area, feel free to contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Let's Talk Gear - Stoves
Okay, so we'll come back to the hiking and camping with kids soon (I'll actually be taking my 6, 4, and 2-year olds camping next weekend), but for now let's go to something that's on every hardcore hikers mind this time of year, including those of us at the Wildernest: gear.
It's spring, and for those who either loathe the winter or haven't taken the plunge into winter camping, it is a time to get the gear out, clean it out, or head out to upgrade your gear. One of those technical pieces of gear that (nearly) every backpacker ends up owning is a stove. So, what to choose?
Backpacking stoves fall into three main categories these days: alcohol stoves, canister stoves, and liquid fuel stoves. Yes, I know there are other options - no cook, cook on the fire, fuel tablets, gel, etc. - but we're talking the big three here - any of which would be a necessity on a backcountry adventure.
The lightest choice is an alcohol stove. To clarify, you're not cooking using rubbing alcohol or your favorite libation; you're using denatured alcohol. The benefits of an alcohol stove are inexpensive fuel and one of the lightest functional cooking options available. There is also something cool about making your own alcohol stove. I haven't done it myself but one of our former employees at the store made each of us one that can be measured in grams. Man that thing is cool! There are also some great pre-made models like those offered by Trangia that are still pretty light but a bit more polished. There is a distinct down side to alcohol stoves, and that is fuel efficiency. Boil times are not near those of gas powered stoves so you will need to be patient come dinner time. I often take my alcohol stove when I am going on a quick and light overnighter that only involves 1-2 meals to cook, that way my entire stove and fuel weight is an incredible three ounces.
Not ready to make the plunge to something so extreme, but you still want to to light? Then maybe a canister stove is for you. Canister stoves are typically filled with isobutane/propane mix whose ratio varies by manufacturer. The different canisters leads to the inevitable question: Do I need to use the brand of fuel that matches my stove? The rule of thumb is that if it fits, it works; nonetheless some manufacturers have proprietary canisters that fit only their stoves, like Camping Gaz or Coleman. (My Personal Liability Disclaimer: Use the fuel that matches your stove! The manufacture will have used their own fuel in determining statistics such as boil time and canister life anyway.) One of our personal favorites here at the Wildernest is the Pocket Rocket by MSR, although there are many different designs. The upsides of canister stoves are weight, compactness, and ease of use with instant gratification. The downsides are an uncertainty of how much fuel remains and less than optimal performance in cool weather. In addition, you can't enclose most with a windscreen since you are enclosing your flame and fuel in the same area - a big no-no. However, that is where some companies like Jetboil and others come up with remote canisters and the ability to flip canisters to burn more fuel. Believe it or not, there are more details we could discuss, but we'll move on for now.
The third major category is liquid fuel stoves. The fuel of choice is typically white gas. Even though alcohol stoves have become extremely popular among long distance hikers, liquid gas stoves such as the MSR Whisperlite have been a staple of the hiking community. The Whisperlite has been hanging on to my generation like the Svea did to the prior one. Why are they so cool? Many white gas stoves are field serviceable and maintainable, plus you always know how much fuel you have left. Refilling fuel bottles can be clutch when on long distance trails like the Appalachian Trail, where you can purchase fuel by the ounce at some outfitters. Looks like you might run out of fuel before the next town stop? Engineer a trade with a fellow hiker for some of your signature GORP and you are still in business. Another plus - you pressurize the bottle so they perform better in colder conditions that other stoves. Before you get too excited, there are of course some negatives... These stoves are generally the heaviest and bulkiest, plus they often involve priming which means you have a couple of extra minutes to wait before you can start dinner.
Can't decide which one? Then do what some of us do and own one of each kind... (envision wry smile and please don't tell my wife I don't need one of each). If you have any questions about stoves or anything else gear related, feel free to contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com. Happy camping this spring!
It's spring, and for those who either loathe the winter or haven't taken the plunge into winter camping, it is a time to get the gear out, clean it out, or head out to upgrade your gear. One of those technical pieces of gear that (nearly) every backpacker ends up owning is a stove. So, what to choose?
Backpacking stoves fall into three main categories these days: alcohol stoves, canister stoves, and liquid fuel stoves. Yes, I know there are other options - no cook, cook on the fire, fuel tablets, gel, etc. - but we're talking the big three here - any of which would be a necessity on a backcountry adventure.
The lightest choice is an alcohol stove. To clarify, you're not cooking using rubbing alcohol or your favorite libation; you're using denatured alcohol. The benefits of an alcohol stove are inexpensive fuel and one of the lightest functional cooking options available. There is also something cool about making your own alcohol stove. I haven't done it myself but one of our former employees at the store made each of us one that can be measured in grams. Man that thing is cool! There are also some great pre-made models like those offered by Trangia that are still pretty light but a bit more polished. There is a distinct down side to alcohol stoves, and that is fuel efficiency. Boil times are not near those of gas powered stoves so you will need to be patient come dinner time. I often take my alcohol stove when I am going on a quick and light overnighter that only involves 1-2 meals to cook, that way my entire stove and fuel weight is an incredible three ounces.
Not ready to make the plunge to something so extreme, but you still want to to light? Then maybe a canister stove is for you. Canister stoves are typically filled with isobutane/propane mix whose ratio varies by manufacturer. The different canisters leads to the inevitable question: Do I need to use the brand of fuel that matches my stove? The rule of thumb is that if it fits, it works; nonetheless some manufacturers have proprietary canisters that fit only their stoves, like Camping Gaz or Coleman. (My Personal Liability Disclaimer: Use the fuel that matches your stove! The manufacture will have used their own fuel in determining statistics such as boil time and canister life anyway.) One of our personal favorites here at the Wildernest is the Pocket Rocket by MSR, although there are many different designs. The upsides of canister stoves are weight, compactness, and ease of use with instant gratification. The downsides are an uncertainty of how much fuel remains and less than optimal performance in cool weather. In addition, you can't enclose most with a windscreen since you are enclosing your flame and fuel in the same area - a big no-no. However, that is where some companies like Jetboil and others come up with remote canisters and the ability to flip canisters to burn more fuel. Believe it or not, there are more details we could discuss, but we'll move on for now.
The third major category is liquid fuel stoves. The fuel of choice is typically white gas. Even though alcohol stoves have become extremely popular among long distance hikers, liquid gas stoves such as the MSR Whisperlite have been a staple of the hiking community. The Whisperlite has been hanging on to my generation like the Svea did to the prior one. Why are they so cool? Many white gas stoves are field serviceable and maintainable, plus you always know how much fuel you have left. Refilling fuel bottles can be clutch when on long distance trails like the Appalachian Trail, where you can purchase fuel by the ounce at some outfitters. Looks like you might run out of fuel before the next town stop? Engineer a trade with a fellow hiker for some of your signature GORP and you are still in business. Another plus - you pressurize the bottle so they perform better in colder conditions that other stoves. Before you get too excited, there are of course some negatives... These stoves are generally the heaviest and bulkiest, plus they often involve priming which means you have a couple of extra minutes to wait before you can start dinner.
Can't decide which one? Then do what some of us do and own one of each kind... (envision wry smile and please don't tell my wife I don't need one of each). If you have any questions about stoves or anything else gear related, feel free to contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com. Happy camping this spring!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
"A Walk in the 'Woods'"
This is Chris from The Wildernest again, with some info on a Lancaster hiking trail a stone's throw from the store - the Farmingdale Trail located off of Good Drive. Please pardon the double quotes in the title; I can explain. The outer quotes are an inside joke code that my wife Sarah and I use when I want her to go on a hike with me, to indicate that I wasn't going to overdo the miles. It's not that she doesn't like to hike, it's just that, well... I was a little too aggressive in choosing the mileage for her and I to hike and backpack early in our relationship. So, when my reputation for long hikes was already in place, she would inquire, "Why don't you just walk in the woods?" And so, a walk in the woods implies something less intense than a hike in our family.
The interior quotes refer to the location of our hike. We decided to go to the landlocked Farmingdale Trail, the trail head of which is located at the Noel Dorwart Park in East Hempfield Township. The purpose of the hike was two-fold: to get out for a nice walk with my wife and three sons... and to possibly assist in inducing labor on Sarah, who was very pregnant with our fourth son.
The first thing I noticed was that the woodlands along the trail were young and distinct. A bit farther along I noticed the occasional tire along the side. With some further research, I realized that in my ignorance I had no idea that the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority had opened the trail on a former landfill. That sort of nixed my thought that someone should come through here and get these tires and take them to a landfill. Ha! However, this is a great example of reclaiming some land that was lost for some time.
Anyway, the trail makes for a nice easy walk (or jog or bike), especially with kids. Its location is also a plus, with few other trails in the vicinity. You can easily piece together three miles worth of travel with the various loops. So, if you want to make a quick and easy jaunt with just a bit of seclusion and you live in the area, I would highly recommend it. However, if you are truly looking to get into the forest in Lancaster, you should head to the northern or southern parts of the county where more outdoor opportunities are offered.
So, the walk to didn't bring on the baby, but we were blessed with a healthy birth within a couple of weeks. Another plus was that our 20-month-old hiked much of the 1.5 miles we went without being carried - his longest trek ever! One final kid note: My oldest son, a kindergartner, shares my same concern for keeping hiking areas clean. He found a plastic bottle on the ground and picked it up for us to carry out, saying that we need to keep the Earth healthy. I asked him where he learned that, expecting to feed my parenting ego; however, his response was, "I don't know... I think I just know it." Wow - maybe we are hard-wired for tree hugging...
Well, stay tuned for more on Lancaster trails, hiking/camping with kids, and much more. If you have any questions or comments, contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com or Shawn at the store at thewildernest@msn.com.
The interior quotes refer to the location of our hike. We decided to go to the landlocked Farmingdale Trail, the trail head of which is located at the Noel Dorwart Park in East Hempfield Township. The purpose of the hike was two-fold: to get out for a nice walk with my wife and three sons... and to possibly assist in inducing labor on Sarah, who was very pregnant with our fourth son.
The first thing I noticed was that the woodlands along the trail were young and distinct. A bit farther along I noticed the occasional tire along the side. With some further research, I realized that in my ignorance I had no idea that the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority had opened the trail on a former landfill. That sort of nixed my thought that someone should come through here and get these tires and take them to a landfill. Ha! However, this is a great example of reclaiming some land that was lost for some time.
Anyway, the trail makes for a nice easy walk (or jog or bike), especially with kids. Its location is also a plus, with few other trails in the vicinity. You can easily piece together three miles worth of travel with the various loops. So, if you want to make a quick and easy jaunt with just a bit of seclusion and you live in the area, I would highly recommend it. However, if you are truly looking to get into the forest in Lancaster, you should head to the northern or southern parts of the county where more outdoor opportunities are offered.
So, the walk to didn't bring on the baby, but we were blessed with a healthy birth within a couple of weeks. Another plus was that our 20-month-old hiked much of the 1.5 miles we went without being carried - his longest trek ever! One final kid note: My oldest son, a kindergartner, shares my same concern for keeping hiking areas clean. He found a plastic bottle on the ground and picked it up for us to carry out, saying that we need to keep the Earth healthy. I asked him where he learned that, expecting to feed my parenting ego; however, his response was, "I don't know... I think I just know it." Wow - maybe we are hard-wired for tree hugging...
Well, stay tuned for more on Lancaster trails, hiking/camping with kids, and much more. If you have any questions or comments, contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com or Shawn at the store at thewildernest@msn.com.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Welcome to the Blogosphere
Welcome! If you have stumbled upon this blog, then you've encountered the potentially first unofficial post for The Wildernest outdoor outfitters, located in Lancaster, PA. I'm Chris, and I've worked part time for the store for the past nine years. In the previous nine years (and before), I've been able to trek a few thousand miles on trails in PA and the east coast, now the journey has become a trek to the blogosphere! You may get to meet other employees and the store's owner in future posts.
So, what will you find at the Wildernest 'Blog? Well, that is still to be determined in some ways. You'll probably get to know us a little better, learn about gear and products, read about relevant hiking information and find out about trails through trips I'll share. In many ways, you may help design this blog - what do you want to hear?
How often will I post? I don't have all the answers right now, so why don't I tell you about the Standing Stone Trail, where I went for a quick overnighter this past weekend. It was supposed to be a two-night trip - something I organize every year with a friend for some guys at my church - but my quite pregnant wife wasn't keen on taking care of our other three boys ages six and under for two nights alone. (What, by the fourth child I am supposed to realize that scheduling a trip when your wife is eight months pregnant is not wise?!)
Anyway, the founders and maintainers of the SST are looking to turn it into a "premier" Pennsylvania trail. That led to many wry "yeah, this is premier" quotes while walking, but all in all the trail was a great moderate hike. Not quite premier, but I'd call it a hidden gem for those of us in south central PA who are looking for something a bit different from our usual AT haunts. We hiked from the northern terminus at Greenwood Furnace State Park to where the trail crosses 655 about 21 miles later. The northern end is quite rocky with a good bit of boulder hopping, but nothing that a seasoned PA hiker would find as a surprise. Don't expect water for the first 8-10 miles of that northern ridge run. A friend and I started Saturday morning and played catch up with the rest of the group that left the night before; we caught up with them early afternoon and they were getting a bit thirsty... The rest of the stretch to 655 had water much more readily available. One part of the trail that was a bit sketchy was some apparent rerouting before you pop out at the dead-end portion of Frew Road. A bit of logic and map-reading easily had us headed in the right direction before too long. I'd definitely recommend it for our south-central PA backpackers; I'd also recommend using the public use map for Rothrock State Forest to get a big picture for shuttling. There were some great vistas and other sites along the trail - I'll plan on uploading some pictures here when I think about it. I'm looking forward to finishing this trail in sections in the next couple of years.
So, what's on tap next? I hope you are willing to stay tuned and find out as this blog develops. Post comments and feel free to contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com.
So, what will you find at the Wildernest 'Blog? Well, that is still to be determined in some ways. You'll probably get to know us a little better, learn about gear and products, read about relevant hiking information and find out about trails through trips I'll share. In many ways, you may help design this blog - what do you want to hear?
How often will I post? I don't have all the answers right now, so why don't I tell you about the Standing Stone Trail, where I went for a quick overnighter this past weekend. It was supposed to be a two-night trip - something I organize every year with a friend for some guys at my church - but my quite pregnant wife wasn't keen on taking care of our other three boys ages six and under for two nights alone. (What, by the fourth child I am supposed to realize that scheduling a trip when your wife is eight months pregnant is not wise?!)
Anyway, the founders and maintainers of the SST are looking to turn it into a "premier" Pennsylvania trail. That led to many wry "yeah, this is premier" quotes while walking, but all in all the trail was a great moderate hike. Not quite premier, but I'd call it a hidden gem for those of us in south central PA who are looking for something a bit different from our usual AT haunts. We hiked from the northern terminus at Greenwood Furnace State Park to where the trail crosses 655 about 21 miles later. The northern end is quite rocky with a good bit of boulder hopping, but nothing that a seasoned PA hiker would find as a surprise. Don't expect water for the first 8-10 miles of that northern ridge run. A friend and I started Saturday morning and played catch up with the rest of the group that left the night before; we caught up with them early afternoon and they were getting a bit thirsty... The rest of the stretch to 655 had water much more readily available. One part of the trail that was a bit sketchy was some apparent rerouting before you pop out at the dead-end portion of Frew Road. A bit of logic and map-reading easily had us headed in the right direction before too long. I'd definitely recommend it for our south-central PA backpackers; I'd also recommend using the public use map for Rothrock State Forest to get a big picture for shuttling. There were some great vistas and other sites along the trail - I'll plan on uploading some pictures here when I think about it. I'm looking forward to finishing this trail in sections in the next couple of years.
So, what's on tap next? I hope you are willing to stay tuned and find out as this blog develops. Post comments and feel free to contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com.
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