So many complain, but I’ve learned to embrace the elements – hot or cold, wet or dry. I recently had the pleasure of sojourning in the rain on the Sentiero DiShay Trail with a good friend of mine. The trail is a 13.2 mile, relatively easy loop located in the northern reaches of Tiadaghton State Forest. The weather and the company made this outing memorable. Plus, it’s always fun getting someone interested in backpacking!
July 30, 2016
Our plans originally involved four of us, but the chaotic lives of young professionals do not guarantee that recreational events will go down as planned. The first to bow out had to relocate suddenly after accepting a job out of state. And the second, from what I was told, wasn’t so keen on sloshing along the soggy trail for a few days. Although the four of us were originally excited to do some backpacking, two of us remained and our itinerary wasn’t set until shortly before go time.
Abigail and I found out that our friend Lillie was going to be in town. Lillie’s plan was to have dinner with her brother and fiancee and she was hoping that we could meet them. It’s not often that we get to see Lillie since she moved away from State College and we looked forward to meeting her brother and fiancee. We heard so much about him; we couldn’t resist the opportunity. After dinner, Lillie invited us over her place to continue the conversation, bribing us with drink and breakfast in the morning. Besides, her house is much closer to the state forest we would be exploring the next day.
The next morning, rain began falling as we prepared to leave for our adventure. Abigail nor I were discouraged and between work and recreation, both of use are used to the elements. We drove to the northern reaches of Tiadaghton State Forest and found a suitable parking area near the junction of Sentiero DiShay Trail and Pine Bog Trail.
We donned our rain gear and shouldered our packs. Just as we started to leave the car, thunder rumbled above. This was going to be the only time we questioned our decision to embark in the inclement weather and we didn’t hear any more. After a few minutes of caution, we proceeded counterclockwise from the trailhead.
The rain varied in its persistence. We eventually removed our rain gear because our effort was making us sweat inside our jackets. Not long after that decision, a torrential downpour soaked us. We sheltered under some thick canopy cover, but returned to our trek after a few minutes. Getting wet was inevitable, whether inside our rain gear or without.
Sometimes the rain confined me under my hat and other times I felt more alive. The rawness of the day extruded a certain truth that I was a part of the nuances that the day would bring. As such, I embraced the cold rain drops on my back as well as the faint glimpses of sunlight – never wanting one more than the other.
We covered the first few miles quickly; the flatness of the trail permitted us to make great progress. At times, the trail briefly followed a few state forest dirt roads. It also meandered through a variety of landscapes. We observed anthropogenic change and natural wonder. The only goals were to enjoy and find a campsite.
By mid-afternoon, we began to ascend a ridge. Not long, we found ourselves at a vista, admiring the how the low clouds covered the ridge tops. The wind blew and penetrated the cloak. Sometimes, the sunlight would highlight a ridge top, but only for a few seconds. The day was fickle and couldn’t make up its mind. I choose to embrace these nuances as they come and go.
I witnessed our highs and lows as we traversed the landscape. Crossing newly disturbed logging paths, sloshing through the mud, lowered our morale. Finding berries to eat lifted our spirits. A multitude of events left their impression on us. Our conversation covered a variety of topics – some more important than others. Our silence wasn’t necessarily an indication of fatigue. The ebb and flow is natural and is one of the beautiful aspects of the trail.
Hoping to complete the bulk of the mileage the first day, we planed to reach County Line Road before setting up camp. We didn’t tire until reaching the northern terminus of the trail. Finding a stash of berries provided the energy we needed to continue. A few more miles and we would find our campsite.
After crossing Route 44, we walked through some pines and happened upon the only other person or people on the trail. The number was unknown; we only observed a zipped up tent and heard some type of entertainment being played inside. The area occupied was a permanent campsite that was spacious with a fire ring and logs to sit upon. A smaller site was located a short distance down the trail. We decided to put some distance between us and our neighbors; thus, we continued our hike.
We selected an area inside a spruce plantation that was near a creek. Sometime around seven, we set up our hammocks and prepared dinner. I was proud so show off my homemade and unassuming Fancy Feast alcohol stove. My little cat-food can with holes drilled into it boiled water perfectly. Soon we were eating. The rehydrated food tasted so good after hiking and being wet all day.
After dinner, I enjoyed the company of my friend. The light began to fade and we continued our conversation. A lantern did not seem appropriate as we witnessed the woods falling asleep. A few nips of whiskey and sounds of my friend singing made me very content. In time, the view turned pitch black and Abigail and I parted ways. I originally had hoped to write in my journal before falling asleep, but that didn’t happen.
The sleep was restful and I felt energized in the morning. We shared oatmeal and tea for breakfast and readied ourselves for the last leg of our journey. We broke camp around mid-morning and after an easy hike, found ourselves back at the trail head within two short hours.
I’ve always enjoyed the time spent outdoors in solitude; however, time spent in nature with loved ones is very special. This adventure marked the first time backpacking with company this season and I’m happy to have shared the experience with Abigail. She is new to backpacking and I’m honored to have served as guide. However, as the independent woman, she needed little help from me. It was my pleasure to explore with a kindred soul and enjoy the natural world!