Appalachian Trail Experience - Part 1

One of the most famous trails in the United States, the Appalachian Trail. Stretching from Georgia to Maine and travels through some of the more spectacular east coast wilderness. Countless hikers set off and traverse parts of the trail and fewer take on the entire trail from start to finish. The thru-hikers, as they are called, take an average of 5-7 months of their lives to complete the trail. I am hoping to place among them in the near future.

For the past summer I’ve been hiking more and more getting my body accustomed to the rigors of the trail. Gaining endurance on the steep climbs and increasing my strength and resolve to handle the rugged terrain. This past weekend I’ve pushed myself to traveling further and faster than I normally hike. I’ve also forgone my normal shoes and gone either bare foot or with my favored Vibram FiveFingers. They are my go to shoes, the ones I wear as much and as often as I can. They have replaced my running shoes and have improved my running ever since. But, I must admit I’m beginning to think that the minimalist shoes just aren’t enough for the sort of hiking I do.

I am not sure if I’m odd or if my way of hiking is outside the norm but, I like to hike to a pretty quick tempo. I don’t just meander through the woods and stop to smell the roses. I use my peripheral vision and don’t really focus on any one thing when I hike…I sort of scan everything in front of me as I hike. Stopping only when I pick up something the piques my interest. I also, hike at a fairly fast pace of 4 m/hr. I do this for cardio mainly. I am really in a mindset to get in shape and pushing the limits of my body…so hiking at a fast pace seemed logical. Call me weird, ok.

Anyway, I hiked over 25 miles in the course of two days. Not as much as I’d have liked but, time was limited. My honest opinion was some seriously sore feet during my hikes. I’m not going to down play anything just because I like Vibrams but, damn was I cursing myself for not brining other shoes. The terrain was so uneven and so rocky that the Vibrams just dulled the pain my feet felt with each step. Though I didn’t stop to rest at any point along the way I really don’t think I’ll wear them for anything more extreme than a trail run on a non-mountainous area. The terrain in the mountains was just too much for the 3.5mm Vibram TC-1 performance rubber soles to handle.

Vibram does make a model called the KSO Treks which have 4mm EVA midsole and TC-1 rubber. I’m not sure that .5mm is going to help my cause. I don’t know anyone else who has used the Vibram’s in mountainous conditions to compare experiences and most of the hikers I ran into had comments ranging from me being a little out there to being completely nuts. I’m sure if they could see me cringing while hiking down a trail with golf ball sized rocks they’d think I was a masochist.

Even though it is extremely painful in the Vibrams I am still apprehensive to wear my normal hiking shoes. I just don’t enjoy the hindrance of movement I get with the New Balance 801’s I have worn in the past. I also am extremely susceptible to blisters in them. Doubling my socks might help but, I really don’t like blisters. I ended up baling hay in my bare feet this year because of blisters. Though not bad, bare feet just limited my ability to bale hay and walk through the field quickly.

I’ll have to decide quickly what I’m going to wear. I plan on hitting the trail again tomorrow and want to go all out in the mountains to work on my leg strength.

My overall opinion of the short 25 miles I’ve hiked on the Appalachian Trail…well I’ll post that tomorrow. Till then, stay healthy.

My First 5K

After the Chocolate Miracle 5K race exhaused in Hershey, PA

 I ran my first 5K race one week ago today.  I was a bit nervous.  How will I finish?  Will I bonk? Will I be able to hang with guys my age even or will I get passed by somebody I perceive to be more out of shape than me?  Ok, I was more nervous than I let on but, I'm happy to say according to the result boards at the race I did better than I thought.  I came in 69th, with an unofficial time of 24 minutes 21seconds making that my fastest 5K ever!  It was definitely an experience I want to repeat and will make some adjustments too.  Experience is absolutely the best way for me to learn.

The race benefited the Children's Miracle Network and took place in good ol' Hershey, PA.  Home of, yes you betcha, Hershey Chocolate.  I was fortunate enough to have my wife and boys with me to keep me company during the pre-race shuffle.  Otherwise I would have probably put my headphones in my ears and fallen asleep.  I had woken up at 4 o'clock to eat and get ready.  Packed the suburban by 5:15.  On the road by 5:30, to get there by 7 o'clock.  Race began at 8 o'clock.  I had plenty of time to register, pin my number (165) on and make sure I was hydrated.  It also gave me time to scope out the other runners.

There were a ton of people there of all ages.  I was a bit disappointed that I could only find one other runner in Vibram FiveFingers.  She ended up 3rd overall for the women.  It was easy to spot the cross country runners.  A group of guys in their late teens / early twenties congregated by a tree.  You could just see it in them they ran and were good at it.  I found out later just how good when they passed me half a mile from the turn around, most of ‘em chit chatting as they ran effortlessly.  By that time, I was doing everything I could just to stay breathing.  

There was a short ceremony right before the race, which I'm sad to say most of us missed cause the sound was so poor.  We all knew when to go though.  I tried starting as close to the beginning as I could...I hate being stuck in a crowd.  

After the half a mile we had thinned out pretty good.  I almost cried when I passed the first mile marker and a guy yelled my time as 7:13, I was shocked.  I normally run a static 8:50 - 9:10 mile.  I was cruising.  

The second mile I had lapsed into a +8 minute mile.  I could feel the heat finally hitting me.  The air was thick and made breathing a challenge.  I've always had difficulty breathing well in distance running.  I just don't feel I'm taking in enough oxygen.  Went to my doctors a while back and after a battery of tests, my lungs are healthy and work perfect.  It didn't feel like they were perfect the day of the race though. Then there was the distinct sound of someone coming up from behind me.

There is something to be said about hearing someone running behind you.  When you hear their heavy breathing and shoes hit the asphalt just over your shoulder that just pushes you.  I remember passing a guy and scaring the crap out of him cause he couldn't hear me coming.  He caught up with me after the race to talk about it.  He said he normally hears the footsteps of someone approaching but, never heard mine.  I told him it was the way I ran because of my shoes. My heels barely strike the ground.  I am a minimalist runner and wear Vibram FiveFingers which enable me to run naturally thus, quietly.  I think I talked to a dozen or so runners about my shoes that day. Most had questions of comfort and if I had any pain when I ran. “Nope,” I told them, “and I’ll never go back to standard shoes again.”

The last stretch of the run was the worst, it was a slight incline back to the starting line. Slight in reality but, at that point it felt like a mountain.  My legs were aching and because I was wearing a knee brace my right calf muscle was beginning to cramp.  ACL replacement back in ‘05 left my knee with little to no meniscus and I didn’t want to take any chances of potential injury.

I took my bandanna off, wrung it out and stuffed it in my waistband.  I was hot and couldn't get cool enough.  I was was tired, sore and felt like i couldn’t take a breath but, by the time I reached the last 200m I hit a zone.  

My body felt the finish line.  I was being pulled to it.  It was within my grasp.  I could feel my stride lengthen. My pace began to quicken. I felt weightless.  I passed two runners as I continued to gain momentum.  Two more runners behind me and I was in a full sprint.  I had run track in school, the 200m and 400m so I was in familiar territory but, had never done it after just running 3 miles.  Even so I drove through the finish line in full stride on the balls of my feet as fast as I could.  

I remember passing the clock and it reading 00:24:20.  I added another second just in case I missed something.  I was out of breath completely as I gave one of the girls waiting at the end of a tunnel they had set up, the tag off my bib.  That is how they kept track of our placing.  I was overjoyed with my time but, wanting to collapse.  I just had to keep moving though.  Soon, my wife and kids came to my rescue with a bottle of water and support.

We hung out and encouraged the other runners as they finished.  The boys and I ate the free bananas, cookies and other snacks they had available for us.  When it was all said and done I was quite proud of myself.  I hadn't thought I'd have had it in me. Though I didn't place in my age group, I had finally gotten back into a competitive environment.  

It’s a place I’ve missed.  I'm not overly competitive, mind you. I mean I've played sports with people who’s only thought was to win, some intense personalities there.  I will admit I do have a pretty competitive side to me but, not until I know I'm ready to compete and I'm not ready right now.  Maybe not ever but, just being in the environment was enough to give me that sensation of life you cant find elsewhere.  

I am already planning my next race in August, I think, and training for my 2nd Livestrong event on August 21st.  Click the link if you'd like to support the fight against cancer!!  And for that I'm going to need stamina and mental endurance, it will be a 100 mile bike ride through Montgomery county near Philadelphia, PA.  According to Livestrong website it is the most difficult course on their schedule, such a nice way to challenge the body.  Rode 70 miles last year, of course I'm gonna push myself this year.  It's what i enjoy.  It's what this sight is really about.  My journey to discover my boundaries and my limits.

This race showed me my limits aren't static and with the right motivation can be pushed even if only a little at a time. Next time, though I'm looking to beat 24 minutes, we'll see cause August is hot but, that's just another obstacle to overcome.

Hiking As A Minimalist

Hiking has been a passion of mine for some time now.  It began when I was in my single digits and has grown with me through the years.  I remember being in the Boy Scouts and hiking all over the place.  I carried a completely filled pack with all the "essentials" I'd need, or so I thought.  Fast forward twenty years and as I look back on it all I must have had one durable back because I don't carry nearly the weight I used to.  Some of it has to do with technology and items weighing less but, for the most part I just don't feel the need to carry all that much gear.  Of course, my wife politely reminded me I also only go on day hikes.  This got me to thinking about what gear would I take if I went on an overnight hike and how well I'd be relying on minimal gear.
I came up with the following list of supplies:
Obviously a pack - I went with my 488 cu. in. MountainSmith Tour Lumbar Pack
Compass
2AA cell LED MagLight
Clif Bars
Shelled Peanuts
Swiss Army Knife
SOG SEAL Pup Elite Knife
Cotton Balls w/ petroleum jelly
Firestarter
2 Canteens
Canteen cup & pouch
H2O purification tablets
Insect Repellent
Cordage - 50' fashioned into an anklet
3 Bandanas
55 gal. drumliner
thin fleece blanket

That's my list...Keep in mind this would be for a warmer overnight...spring, summer, or early fall.  Outside of my normal hiking clothes, Vibram FiveFingers, shorts, coolmax shirt, flannel and bandanna...I'd be set.  I'm not a big fan of large packs and because I sweat...a lot, the idea of having a pack against my back all day just irritates me.  I'll keep it simple.  The bare essentials to make it there, through the night and back and be content.
Of course this isn't for everyone.  I enjoy pushing the envelope when I go out and have gone out with just a Swiss Army Knife and my canteen set-up, (canteen, tin cup that fits onto canteen and pouch).  Ended up spending the night under a rock with a fire directed into the  overhang.  It was quite comfy, though I ended up with more mosquito bites than I care to ever have again.
My passion for minimalism is freedom, doing more with less restraints & not worrying about whether I packed my sleeping pad.  I just want to enjoy nature, period.  And, if nature wants to have a little fun with me and get me lost and keep me for a few days I've done my homework and educated myself to be able to handle being out with little gear and be quite content.  My hat goes off the people like Cody Lundin who had the balls to live in a wikiup for years and was happy doing so.  Not only is it validation that we can do with much less than what we do and be happy but, there is hope that we can find a happy medium between those worlds.  Where we respect and become more attuned to nature and decrease the amount of "stuff" we think we need.
Hiking has been one of the first areas I've gone minimalist in, I've started minimalizing my life and possessions.  I don't want my children growing up with a need to just have things.  I want them to understand we only need so much and the few things we do have that are beyond those need are truly treasured possessions.  My intent is to hike for a day spend the night wherever I make it too and hike back the next with minimal gear this weekend.  I'll see how it goes.  The good, the bad and the ugly!

Fire: 10,000 B.C. Style

Fire, a necessity in any survival situation it provides warmth, the ability to cook food, purify water and aid in being noticed by rescuers.  Today we take fire for granted with our propane lighters and matches.  It is easy to start a fire, just a click of a button and voila...instantaneous flame.  Our prehistoric ancestors would think of us as supreme deities if they saw the tools we use to produce the magic fire.  Their only tools being archaic as they were; sticks, stones and cordage, they also were able to harness the energies of fire.  So, what happens when you are out on a three day hike and you loose your pack or lighter?  Or, here's a senerio.

While on a canoe ride you hit some rapids and turned over.  After surfacing and uprighting the canoe.  You realize your pack is nowhere to be found.  You travel several miles down river in hopes of finding it attached to a tree hanging over the water but, to no avail it can't be found.  The sun is beginning to set and you're still wet from the earlier swim.  You need to get dry or hypothermia is eminent.  What do you do?

I'm considered odd by my friends and family because these are the sort of things I think about.  I mentally play out scenarios in my head that could possibly happen one day while out in the wilderness, where I tend to spend as much time as possible.  So, what do you do?  You need a fire, first and foremost.  You have to get dry and the sun setting is going to do nothing to help the hypothermia.  But, how do you make fire with only what you have in your pockets?  Well, that's what I have spent the past couple of days learning to do.

I went through my gear and determined what I'd have on my person and came up with just a few items.  I always carry my SOG SEAL Pup knife on my calf.  It's a great fixed blade knife that has taken tons of abuse from whittling to splitting branches while making shelters.  I also carry a Swiss Victorinox Camper pocket knife, a canteen with cup, compass, lip balm, & notebook all in a belt case on an military belt.  I also have about 50' of 550 paracord that I've fashioned into an anklet I wear.  Backpacker.com has a great article on how to make your own.  These are my essentials, I don't go into the woods without them and I don't usually remove them from my person.  So, with that said how do I start a fire?

What I've come up with is a bow drill.  This tool is easy to make and with a little practice easy to use.  There are some "rules" to follow before going out and making this.

1. The material you use is important and will determine the difficulty in creating fire.
2. The time spent creating the tools will aide in the ease of their use.
3. There is a technique to using a bow drill so go slow at first before really going hard into generating heat.
4. Lubrication will make or break ya!!!

Before I begin, please make sure you have fire wood, kindling and a tinder bundle already gathered.  With that said I like to use a medium hard wood like cottonwood, sassafras, sycamore, poplar, willow, aspen cedar, or tamarack.  You can use a thumbnail test to help in choosing the wood by simply depressing your thumbnail into the wood.  If it's soft and easy to press, the wood is too soft.  If it is a struggle to make a mark, it's too hard.  If it you can make an impression on the wood without cutting into the wood, it's just right.  I make most everything all out of the same wood to make things easy, making them out of different woods could cause something to just burn out before actually making fire.

You'll need to make a spindle, fire board, hand plate and bow to make this all work.  The spindle can be carved from a branch and will resemble a dowel rod, the rounder the better.  This will go in between the fire board and the hand plate.  The fire board should be about a foot long and twice the width of your spindle.  The hand plate, I usually make a little bigger than the size of my palm to avoid contact with the spindle.  The bow can be any 2' long curved branch that is solid and won't break while using.  You will also need a bit of cordage for the bowstring, this can be a shoelace, paracord or you can create your own cordage from nature but that takes a bit of time to do.

I start with the fire board by taking a 2" thick branch and flattening down two sides like a board.  This way I have an even surface on the ground and for my spindle.  I cut a dimple into one side of the board about a 1/2" from an edge for my spindle to sit in.

The hand plate comes next and much like the fire board gets a dimple in the center of a 3/4" to 1 1/4" thick piece of wood that will fit comfortably in my hand and carve a flat side that the dimple will be carved in, this will be the socket.

The final piece is the spindle, this should be about 1/2" in diameter and 8" in length in the shape of a cylinder.  You will want to taper the ends.

Once everything is made you need to lubricate the socket.  This will allow the spindle to spin freely and reduce any friction between the two pieces of wood.  You can use natural body oils, such as the oil produced on the side of your nose, animal fat, pine pitch or slime molds.  Please do not use water or sweat, it will absorb into the wood and cause it to swell and make the task near impossible.

With everything created we need to drill the sockets which means will also allow you to become accustomed to the movements necessary to create fire.  You'll want to put everything together as such:

You wanna keep things loose at first till you get a pretty good socket burned into each piece of wood.  Burning the sockets is just what it means you burn the sockets through friction causing them to deepen.  After the socket are created you'll want to carve a notch from the outside of the fire board into the socket for the burnt wood to collect.  I place a piece of bark under the fire board to collect the ash and embers and make things easier to move from the fire board area to the kindling.  

Once again assume the position and get ready to rumble.  Start sawing the bow back and forth nice and smooth and get into a good rhythm slowly building speed and pressure on the spindle till you see smoke coming from the fire board.  Once this happens begin applying more pressure and speed but, stay in control of the bow.  You'll start getting a good amount of smoke, at which point 10 or so saw strokes later you should see smoke continue from the pile of burnt wood.  Quickly and carefully place the smoking burnt wood powder into the center of the tinder bundle and cup it in your hands gently.  Begin blowing a steady gentle stream of air into the bundle causing an ember to glow.  From here you need to coax the bundle to ignite through blowing into it, once it ignites place it into a kindling tipi (built before any construction of the bow drill) and coax the bundle to ignite your kindling...Voila...fire, 10,000 B.C. style.  

There are a number of YouTube videos showing the demonstration of this technique.  You can search for Cody Lundin or Bear Grylls and bow drills.  

The first time I did this I felt like I just conquered an enormous obstacle.  It was truly a great feeling.  It also will allow you to dry your clothes from the earlier swim and keep from suffering hypothermia overnight.  Fire is an major convenience we take for granted but, without it feel helpless.  Knowing how to create a fire using minimal tools and nature is a great confidence booster when going outdoors.

Staying Healthy by Staying Active

Over they years I've gone from a well toned 175 lb physique to a 235 lb "what the hell happened to me body."  I'm currently on my way back to my days of being toned again and I must say the road is quite rough.  Anybody who says getting a great body is easy is all out lying to you.  I too have sat watching the infomercials and thought wow, that looks like it would work.  I've even given a few of them a try but, the one thing I've discovered is that there comes a point in any work out routine where it becomes just that, routine.  I get bored and discouraged and say, "the hell with it, " and put the DVD or whatever aside and go channel surfing with a bag of popcorn. So how am I getting back to where I was so many years ago?  Three words, I stay active.

My entire fitness goal is to just stay active.  Whether it be cycling, running, hiking or mowing the lawn.  Though even that won't shed the 50 lbs of junk I put on over the years sitting behind a desk and being a slug.  I have had to change my dietary intake too. Though this wasn't as traumatic as I thought it would be. I have severely reduced my soda intake and drink primarily water.  I don't go overboard with my meals either.  For example, I eat a sensible breakfast keeping my fats down and eating a lot of egg whites and Cream of Wheat...with just honey.  I don't stay too strict only because I've found my body revolts and I get really agitated when I just eat what I consider nothing but healthy foods.  I know I could just grind through it but, first of all I'm not a paid athlete who makes a living off my athleticism, second, I enjoy eating & lastly, my family doesn't need to be put on a strict diet or suffer because of me.  I have a 4 and 5 year old, they like sausage and pancakes for breakfast.  Sure, my wife and I get lean sausage and make our pancakes from scratch to keep things fairly healthy but, I'm not going to go around life carrying around health food just in case we are out and they get hungry.  I'm just being realistic.  I think most diets fail because people start out full of gusto and realize that after 3 weeks they are eating the same foods over and over and their bodies revolts.

I know I don't eat as healthy as I could.  I choose to do this.  But, what I do do is make sure that I do eat as healthy as I can when I can.  I try not to eat fatty cut meats, I eat more vegetables and fruits, I cut back on drinking anything but, water, I limit my "snack" foods to special occasions.  Overall, I just discipline my intake.  It was a bit of a struggle at first but, I slowly integrated the way I eat over time and now don't have the cravings I used too.  I do admit though, whenever I ride for 50 miles or better I get a craving for pizza that is nearly impossible to shake.

Food was the first step to getting healthy, the second was the most difficult...exercising.  I had been inactive for so long I had forgotten what it was like to be active.  I struggled in the beginning and even gave up two or three times.  I initially began running but, a bad knee with hardly any meniscus kinda prevented me from being able to tolerate anything more than a 5K.  I switched to weight lifting, something I was quite into before, and went too hard too quick and ended up either hurting myself or getting sick.  I did a lot of reading and started barefoot running.  Between the technique and low impact I was able to running greater distances.  Though even after a year of doing so anything over 10 miles causes my knee to swell and ache for days.  My knee is just that bad.  Then a good friend got me into cycling.  I eased into it, only having a mountain bike.  Gradually I worked my milage up.  I was loaned an actual road bike and soon my milage soared.  I even, after only a couple of months, participated in my first biking event the 2010 Philly Livestrong.  I ended up riding 70 miles that day it was the most exhaustively satisfying exertion ever.

I relaxed over the winter, unable to ride in the snow.  I gained some of my weight back I had lost the year before but, came back with a vengence this year. I realized that even though I was eating better, my not being active didn't help me stay fit. I needed to be active and be active consistently. The best advice I've ever heard came from Matthew McConaughey, in an interview he had someone asked him how he kept his “sexy body,” his response was to sweat once a day, not worry about how far you run but, how long. His take on exercising is much the way a kid plays. He'll start out on a run and see a rock on the side of the road and stop and bust out a few reps of curls and presses before moving on. He just stays active. He says he doesn't use a gym but, whatever he finds around him. 

I've taken that philosophy and run with it with awesome results.  As soon as the weather broke I started running and cycling again.  I began incorporating body weight exercises into my weekly activities to strengthen my core and lessen the impact of long rides on my body.  I started hiking in the mountains to really get a great leg work out climbing hills and using different muscles than I use in my cycling.  I change things up.  I don't stick with any one thing too long.  My bike routes continually change.  I don't follow any pattern of exercise.  I wake up in the morning and decide then what I wanna do based on how my body feels.  Some days I do nothing, others I go for a 25 mile ride in the morning knowing I'll be baling hay in the afternoon and not think twice.  For those unfamiliar to baling hay, it is an extremely intense task of throwing 40 -50 lb hay bales from the ground onto a wagon, stack the hay and then unload the wagon into a barn.  It is estimated by Livestrong website to burn 11 calories a minute and we usually start baling around noon and finish up around 9 at night.  We eat a couple of times and take breaks to change wagons and such but, we never really stop moving.  The day is a pain and I'm glad it only happens a few times a year.  I have noticed that my energy levels have increase over the past two years and feel they will continue to do so as I get in better shape.

I can't say that the systems we see on TV don't work but, they don't work for me.  I have learned that just by staying active and not giving up on the things I enjoy, food, but, limiting them is allowing my body to become healthier by the week.  I think the biggest thing I could recommend is to be honest with yourself and start slow.  Like anything nothing will happen overnight so just take it easy but, maintain your persistence.

The Tuscarora Trail

South central Pennsylvania in early June from the top Barkley Ridge on the Blue Mountains is a beautiful sea of green foliage.  Giving the appearance of an ocean in the morning breeze adds to the amazing sight.  My hiking partner and I had discussed this trek for about two weeks till we were able to put it to action.  Our plan was simple, walk straight up the mountain behind my house, find the Tuscarora Trail and follow it to Flat Rock Trail in the Tuscarora State Forest & finally to Col. Denning State Park where we'd be met by his girlfriend for our ride home.
We didn't set off till a little after 2 p.m. and I traveled with minimal gear not knowing what sort of terrain we'd run into at the top of a mountain.  Following the road straight up the mountain proved to be more difficult than we'd realize.  It quickly went from asphalt to dirt to rocks quickly.  Recent four-wheeler tracks helped the climb but, we still had a good workout in the process.  We reached Rattlesnake Camp at the top of the climb, it was a small shelter and fire pit located in a nice open field looking out over Perry and Cumberland counties.

Hiking was difficult, ankle strength was put to the test.

From there we located the trail, which was no easy feat.  The trail is not as well marked as we'd thought it might be and took a bit of navigating on our part to locate.  We followed the top of the range for a few hours, travel was slow and unstable.  Much of the terrain is loose rock and a great deal of overgrowth with the occasional downed tree blocking the trail.  The overgrowth made things more difficult due to us not being able to spot trail markers quickly.  I think we veered off the trail 2 - 3 times only but, had a slow go through this stage of the hike.
We didn't stop too often and when we did it was to look out at the beauty around us.  There wasn't much signs of travel through this part of the trail and I can understand why.  There wasn't as much wildlife as I had hoped.  A few deer, a wild turkey and a pheasant were all we saw.  Once the trail left the ridge of the mountain the trail became more traversable.

Flat Rock vantage point. A bit hazy but, still a great view.

Opening up and much better maintained we were able to up our pace and make up for lost time.  We had figured 5 hours to make the trail and we were a bit behind.  No stopping for lunch, we ate on the move.  We did have some concerns about our water supply since we were sweating, a lot, and only carried about 2 liters each.  Finally after roughly 3 hours of hiking we came upon our first trail sign.  To our concern it read "Col. Denning 9 miles" and we started to think we'd be turning this into a night hike.  We are still not sure why the sign reads 9 miles because with our cadence we approximated that we only traveled about 4 miles from that point to Flat RockTrail in the Tuscarora State Forest.
We stopped at a creek and cooled off a bit, reapplied bug spray and at a bit before heading back up the mountain to Flat Rock.  For those who don't know Flat Rock is a majestic view of Cumberland county and on a clear day and good eyesight you can see Harrisburg, PA to the north.
From Flat Rock we were able to make sure our ride home could pick us up by the time we finished our descent and take in the scene below.  Our final hike down the mountain was made with caution.  The trail is littered with loose rock and is pretty steep so footing is a bit tricky in areas.
We finished our trip in 5 hours and 20 minutes, tired, sore and happy with our accomplishment.  It was a rewarding trip that is definitely worth repeating.  I'm trying to talk my hiking partner in to an overnight hike...we'll see how it goes.
Since I'm always curious what others take on day trips I thought I'd share my list with everyone and encourage readers to do the same in the comments section.
Also, just a side note.  I did this hike in a pair of New Balance X-trainers which held up well considering the rough terrain.  I was hoping to do this in my Vibram FiveFingers KSO's but, haven't got them glued back together again.  If I can ever afford it I plan on getting the KSO Treks from Vibram FiveFingers, the leather uppers and heartier soles look to be my best trail/hiking shoe.
My Gear List
Camlepak 2L backpack system (one of the original packs)
My Everest waistpack
SOG SEAL Pup knife
Swiss Army Knife
Clif Bars
Twizzlers
Altoids first aid kit (homemade)
iPhone
2 bandanas
notebook
pen
picture of family
I.D. tags
bug spray 

Living in Vibram Five Fingers

I'm not sure if they are the "new thing," or not but, I've been wearing Vibram Five Fingers for over a year and am absolutely in love with them.  It is difficult to describe the feeling of wearing Vibrams, I'm so accustomed to having them on it's un-natural to wear actual shoes.  I was never a barefoot kid growing up and was even more reliant on shoes in the years beyond being a carefree child.  I didn't even know what minimalism was until after I started wearing Vibrams.  Now I don't like not wearing them.

It all began when I started looking to loose weight.  My career had sat me behind a desk for a number of years and the hours increased, my single life style was replaced with a wife and two children and my time spent in the gym became extinct.  I was a regular at the gym, six days a week, it was my religion.  As happens to many priorities change and life gets restructured and our days of fitness are pushed aside.  The result for me was gaining about 50 lbs.  I went from a solid 185 lbs. to 235 lbs. at my heaviest.  I hadn't even realized it until after my position was eliminated in 2008 and I found myself at home, unemployed and running after a 2 & 3 year old. They kicked my butt.  I had never been one for endurance but, had never had problems being unable to "keep up."  Then there was the full length mirror my wife brought home one day and I saw what I had become.  I was shocked to say the least.

The weeks to come saw me lifting weights and changing my diet but, deep down I knew cardio was the only way I was going to actually loose what I had.  Well, being unemployed kept me from buying any fancy cardio equipment.  It was just me and my Nike's.  I realized running was my last choice.  I could do it whenever and where ever.  I wasn't bound by anything except my own body.  There was the tricky part.  I had ACL surgery in 2005 and had gone over 10 years on a torn ACL, actively gone.  My knees were pretty tore up because of the abuse I put them through so, I knew I was going to have to be very careful running.

I started slow, 1 mile here, 2 miles there, 5K around the block and found my wall.  5K was about as much as I run without actually having to put some TLC to my knees for a couple of days.  It was time to research.  I went through the internet with gusto and came upon Christopher McDougall's Born to Run and barefoot running.  I was intrigued, so much so that I had the book read within days.  I was hooked, I wanted to try this strange way of running that helped minimize injuries.  Soon after that I recieved my first pair of VFF's.  I went with the KSO's and haven't looked back since.

Today, they are my go to shoe.  I run in them, of course, but, also wear them much like one would wear their sneakers.  I have actually grown so accustomed to wearing them that wearing a regular shoe, even worse a boot, is uncomfortable.  It doesn't feel natural.  Lately, I've been wearing them on hikes.  It's been a struggle because I tend to choose some of the more difficult trails or just go off trail which tends to be a little hard on the feet.  But, like getting used to running in them I'm confident that I'll grow accustomed to the terrain.

Overall, I look forward to a long relationship with Vibram Five Fingers.  There are some downsides, I can't paint a perfect picture of the shoes.  I've had a huge problem of them coming apart.  It takes about 6 months of using them strictly for running before they begin to show signs of wear.  I've never gotten much of an answer from Vibram regarding the problem but, I've also never seen a shoe that stands up to the quality or feel of the Vibram's.  They are like wearing a second skin and am unsure that a competitor will trump their Ace's anytime soon.  Though I've only ever had one pair at any given time I know that soon I'll be purchasing a new pair and I'm having a difficult time determining just what to go with.  I just am keeping my fingers crossed on the structural integrity.

In the Beginning...

My back yard in June '07

As with anything there is a beginning and an end.  Today begins my journey into my sharing of thoughts and ideas surrounding the great outdoors and all things which may encompass it.  I've always enjoyed being deep in the woods, alone and secluded from the hustle and bustle of life.  Always felt a sense of comfort and security in the middle of nowhere.  Odd for a kid who grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland, OH.  We didn't have much in the way of woods, there were a few parks here and there and that was as good as it got.  My love story really began when my family moved to Marietta, OH, right along the OH / WV border.  We lived in a modest ranch home on 2 acres in the middle of nowhere.  Our closest neighbor was a half mile down a gravel road.  All around me were fields of corn, hay, soybean and a magical forest.  I remember my first trek into the woods that sat behind the field of our backyard.  There was a deep and cool stream running before it like the moat of a castle.  Pines mixed with great oaks and maples guarded the entrance to a world I created as I went further inside.
We lived there for only two years before returning the the suburban life but, I was hooked.  I craved to be outside surrounded by trees and what I was already calling pure life.  The untainted by urbanism life.  Fortunately for me we dad was making good money and we moved to a location behind one of the larger parks in the area.  I had woods a mere 50 feet from my back door.  Throughout my teens I learned every tree, path and stream within that park.  I was able to walk from my house to the main portion of the park in the dark, if need be, without worry of getting lost.
The adventure grew after I learned to drive and bought my first car.  Now, I had the ability to travel to more remote and unexplored areas.  I would pack the car and go every Saturday morning and spend my weekends further and further from pavement and people.
My passion came to a minor halt once I joined the working class.  I started college and worked full time limiting any chances of being near nature.  Many years passed before I was able to get back to being outdoors as I had growing up.  I'm married and have children of my own.  Now more than ever with my sons at an age that enables them to enjoy and appreciate the outdoors I am seeking to regain my outdoors lifestyle.  I am blessed to live where I do.  All around my home are forests and mountains.  Exploration is everywhere.  My intent is to cover my outdoor philosophy, local trails, remote trails (if possible), the gear I use or don't use & the ever living artwork I call home.