Pennsylvania Camping Trip - October 2011

It was a tough year to schedule a mountain trip out west, so we settled on a nice long weekend in central Pennsylvania, specifically the Hammersley Wild Area of the Susquehannock State Forest.  Pete just took a job in Phoenix, so it was up to Mark, Mike and I to keep the streak going.  I flew in to Cleveland on Wednesday night and stayed with Mark at his parents house.  We left bright and early and linked up with Mike in Renovo, it being so small that Mike was able to find us easily at one of two eateries in town without tactical communication.  Last stop was at Phil's tackle shop.  Phil didn't want to sell us anything - I had to practically beg him to pull out a tray of flies.  He did inform us that there was "a lot of water up there", that it was never cloudy, and that we'd have to hike a long ways (1-2 whole miles) to get off the beaten track.  We suspect "Phil" is in the witness protection program.

Unloading the gear



First map check - still within sight of the cars



Negotiating the water obstacle.  Mike was soon to lose his water bottle here.

Mark and Mike laughing in the face of obvious danger

 

Jugs being Jugs



We tied one on the first night...

 

Mike checking his Blackberry

 

Nothing but a little burn-off



 

It was a little nippy in the morning



Mark rocked the shorts though



Nothing beats eggs and Spam



Despite Phil's pronouncement, the water was shallow, and deep pools were rare.  Definitely pretty though.

Mark with a nice brookie

Becks hauled one in too

Dave's fish count...

Breakfast in Ole Bull.  The proprietors of this general store/diner filled us in on all the history of the area.  Pretty cool.