Frau
07-20-2008, 00:58
Just returned from a great, altho short, backpacking trip to the Backcountry.
I carried the Catalyst, loaded with abt. 30 pounds (I had packed water and food for 3 days), for the second time. The first time was several months ago with only 20 lbs. on. From Summit Gate we hiked down Fisherman's Trail, forded the Cranberry (quite and ordeal with big back AND barefoot!), and set up camp about 1.5 miles up the bike trail, where Dogway goes off to the right.
This is some of the most beautiful forest I have ever seen! A special treat was seeing a Golden Trout approx. 12 inces long. I had never seen one before and at first thought the fish was albino. WONDERFUL specimen.
Was VERY pleased with the dehydrated brown rice I had packed to accompany the prepackaged Madras Lentils and Jodphur Lentils (from http://www.tastybite.com/Vegetarian_Food_s/60.htm ). Found lots of black raspberries for dessert.
This morning we tried out the Java Juice which is FAR superior to the coffee sngles. We headed up Dogway for 45 minutes, to the liming station and then turned onto the old road grade heading back up to Summit gate. There was lots of bear sign--huge piles of scat and many tracks of all sizes, in the track traps. More beautiful forest! The saddest thing was the ADELGID which we had not seen before this summer in WV.
Nessmuk's metal ankle was hurting sumpthin fierce after the nearly 9 mile pull. It was gradual, but we only stopped once. SO, we did not stay for the second night.
We saw several cyclists and 6-8 fishermen. The shelters looked grungey, the one privy at Dogway, horrible. We set up our own camp with tarp. Wish we hadn't had to leave so early.
We will be back before the summer is over. The Cranberry is our favorite place--there are years backpacking and biking ahead of us there.
I strongly recommend The Cranberry Wilderness, Backcountry and the SW Monongahela to all.
Frau
I carried the Catalyst, loaded with abt. 30 pounds (I had packed water and food for 3 days), for the second time. The first time was several months ago with only 20 lbs. on. From Summit Gate we hiked down Fisherman's Trail, forded the Cranberry (quite and ordeal with big back AND barefoot!), and set up camp about 1.5 miles up the bike trail, where Dogway goes off to the right.
This is some of the most beautiful forest I have ever seen! A special treat was seeing a Golden Trout approx. 12 inces long. I had never seen one before and at first thought the fish was albino. WONDERFUL specimen.
Was VERY pleased with the dehydrated brown rice I had packed to accompany the prepackaged Madras Lentils and Jodphur Lentils (from http://www.tastybite.com/Vegetarian_Food_s/60.htm ). Found lots of black raspberries for dessert.
This morning we tried out the Java Juice which is FAR superior to the coffee sngles. We headed up Dogway for 45 minutes, to the liming station and then turned onto the old road grade heading back up to Summit gate. There was lots of bear sign--huge piles of scat and many tracks of all sizes, in the track traps. More beautiful forest! The saddest thing was the ADELGID which we had not seen before this summer in WV.
Nessmuk's metal ankle was hurting sumpthin fierce after the nearly 9 mile pull. It was gradual, but we only stopped once. SO, we did not stay for the second night.
We saw several cyclists and 6-8 fishermen. The shelters looked grungey, the one privy at Dogway, horrible. We set up our own camp with tarp. Wish we hadn't had to leave so early.
We will be back before the summer is over. The Cranberry is our favorite place--there are years backpacking and biking ahead of us there.
I strongly recommend The Cranberry Wilderness, Backcountry and the SW Monongahela to all.
Frau