Bob's bivy sack and gear. (Note my brilliant idea to protect hiking boots at night with a Gore-Tex baseball cap!)
Date: 02/15/2001
Bob's bivy sack and gear. (Note my brilliant idea to protect hiking boots at night with a Gore-Tex baseball cap!)
Our first night's campsite. We only hiked a few miles that day, since we started in the rain.
Date: 02/15/2001
Our first night's campsite. We only hiked a few miles that day, since we started in the rain.
At least we were next to a nice peaceful creek where we could get water.
Date: 02/16/2001
At least we were next to a nice peaceful creek where we could get water.
The second night we camped above this waterfall. We hung our bear bags down off the cliff on the left during the night.
Date: 02/16/2001
The second night we camped above this waterfall. We hung our bear bags down off the cliff on the left during the night.
Here's me foolish enough to get under that freezing cold waterfall.
Date: 03/31/2005
Here's me foolish enough to get under that freezing cold waterfall.
It was a nice big, deep pool, it was just COLD. We kind of forgot that the mountains would be 10 degrees colder.
Date: 02/16/2001
It was a nice big, deep pool, it was just COLD. We kind of forgot that the mountains would be 10 degrees colder.
The second day we took a shortcut straight up a hill. We took this picture thinking we had made it to the fields on the ridge and were on the trail. Really we were on some cow path that would only get us further lost.
Date: 02/16/2001
The second day we took a shortcut straight up a hill. We took this picture thinking we had made it to the fields on the ridge and were on the trail. Really we were on some cow path that would only get us further lost.
We were very proud of ourselves still. We didn't realize that we had begun a multi-day bush-whacking trip.
Date: 02/16/2001
We were very proud of ourselves still. We didn't realize that we had begun a multi-day bush-whacking trip.
The ridge would have allowed us to walk parrallel to the river. Being below the ridge meant following fingers of land back and forth, thereby multiplying our distance tenfold.
Date: 02/16/2001
The ridge would have allowed us to walk parrallel to the river. Being below the ridge meant following fingers of land back and forth, thereby multiplying our distance tenfold.
Stopping for lunch. As you can see, any semblance of trail is long gone.
Date: 02/16/2001
Stopping for lunch. As you can see, any semblance of trail is long gone.
We would climb through these trees to a peak, only to discover we had to climb back down to reach the real mountain.
Date: 02/16/2001
We would climb through these trees to a peak, only to discover we had to climb back down to reach the real mountain.
That's where we're about to go. There isn't even a deer trail to follow here.
Date: 02/17/2001
That's where we're about to go. There isn't even a deer trail to follow here.
Don't those wool over-ther-calf socks look sexy?
Date: 03/31/2005
Don't those wool over-ther-calf socks look sexy?
Another pic of what we were calling a trail. Did I mention we were lost?
Date: 02/17/2001
Another pic of what we were calling a trail. Did I mention we were lost?
You've been lost for two days and you come across this hunting lodge in the middle of nowhere. I told Bob I was dropping my pack and leaving him behind if I heard duelling banjos, and we both ran past it as fast as we could.
Date: 02/17/2001
You've been lost for two days and you come across this hunting lodge in the middle of nowhere. I told Bob I was dropping my pack and leaving him behind if I heard duelling banjos, and we both ran past it as fast as we could.
Still lost, but evidently not the first ones here!
Date: 02/17/2001
Still lost, but evidently not the first ones here!
We popped out of the forest on the far side of this farm. Praying that we wouldn't be shot, we both ran as fast as we could across the field, keeping a low profile until we got to the gate.
Date: 02/23/2001
We popped out of the forest on the far side of this farm. Praying that we wouldn't be shot, we both ran as fast as we could across the field, keeping a low profile until we got to the gate.
I can't get the gate open, and suddenly I hear Bob screaming something about the cows coming for us. He takes off his pack and hops to the road, I throw him both packs then follow him.
Date: 02/23/2001
I can't get the gate open, and suddenly I hear Bob screaming something about the cows coming for us. He takes off his pack and hops to the road, I throw him both packs then follow him.
We ran down that road (with dogs yapping from every roadside trailer) and didn't slow down till we got past the next cemetary.
Date: 02/23/2001
We ran down that road (with dogs yapping from every roadside trailer) and didn't slow down till we got past the next cemetary.
I'm not sure if I liked our chances any better in "civilization".
Date: 02/23/2001
I'm not sure if I liked our chances any better in "civilization".
We thought maybe if we climbed to the top we'd be able to use a compass, maybe find a trail.
Date: 02/18/2001
We thought maybe if we climbed to the top we'd be able to use a compass, maybe find a trail.
That's an actual cloud we're planning on climbing up into.
Date: 03/31/2005
That's an actual cloud we're planning on climbing up into.
A glance back down at where we came from.
Date: 02/18/2001
A glance back down at where we came from.
We hadn't seen a trail marker in days. We were so amazed, we just had to take a picture.
Date: 03/31/2005
We hadn't seen a trail marker in days. We were so amazed, we just had to take a picture.
It turns out above the tree cover wasn't much better for compass use. The cloud was so thick it was like we were in our own little bubble.
Date: 02/18/2001
It turns out above the tree cover wasn't much better for compass use. The cloud was so thick it was like we were in our own little bubble.
Boy did it rain that night. Bob was VERY glad that I brought my tarp, but it's only 5'x8', so cooking was tough.
Date: 02/19/2001
Boy did it rain that night. Bob was VERY glad that I brought my tarp, but it's only 5'x8', so cooking was tough.
Midway through the night Bob and I were both still awake. We had neglected to hang bearbags in the pouring rain, and were scared to go asleep. We agreed to just shove our packs out into the rain and hope it was good enough.
Date: 02/19/2001
Midway through the night Bob and I were both still awake. We had neglected to hang bearbags in the pouring rain, and were scared to go asleep. We agreed to just shove our packs out into the rain and hope it was good enough.
We ran into Seneca Rocks and decided to treat ourselves to a hotel room for the night.
Date: 02/20/2001
We ran into Seneca Rocks and decided to treat ourselves to a hotel room for the night.
This is everything laid out and attempting to dry.
Date: 02/20/2001
This is everything laid out and attempting to dry.
EVERYTHING was wet, so this made for one messy hotel room.
Date: 02/20/2001
EVERYTHING was wet, so this made for one messy hotel room.
We hiked up the road that day. This is half-way up a hill that we hadn't noticed on our maps.
Date: 02/20/2001
We hiked up the road that day. This is half-way up a hill that we hadn't noticed on our maps.
We hiked 4.5 miles one way up an 8% grade, only to finaly sit down, check our maps, and realize that we were supposed to turn right before the hill. We then hiked the whole way back down.
Date: 02/20/2001
We hiked 4.5 miles one way up an 8% grade, only to finaly sit down, check our maps, and realize that we were supposed to turn right before the hill. We then hiked the whole way back down.
Me next to the sign that made us pull out our maps and realize we'd missed a turn 4.5 miles earlier.
Date: 02/23/2001
Me next to the sign that made us pull out our maps and realize we'd missed a turn 4.5 miles earlier.
Bob next to the sign that taught us that you can't check your map too often.
Date: 02/23/2001
Bob next to the sign that taught us that you can't check your map too often.
I'm not sure which is scarier, the glowing eyes on the deer or the beer cans growing from the tree next to it.
Date: 02/21/2001
I'm not sure which is scarier, the glowing eyes on the deer or the beer cans growing from the tree next to it.
Couldn't get a good shot, but it's a branch covered with fuzzy moving white puffs. I believe they were Asian woolly hackberry aphids, introduced to the US in 1996.
Date: 02/23/2001
Couldn't get a good shot, but it's a branch covered with fuzzy moving white puffs. I believe they were Asian woolly hackberry aphids, introduced to the US in 1996.
There's Seneca Rocks off in the distance.
Date: 02/23/2001
There's Seneca Rocks off in the distance.
