Post-Schna-ulations

Tales of a Sunday Trek

I have now stood at the highest point in the state of Pennsylvania (technically, I have stood 50 feet ABOVE the highest NATURAL point on a rickety, rusty old tower, whose stability was in question, but which proved to be durable enough in the end).

This point would be Mt. Davis, at the pinnacle of Negro Mountain (elevation 3213 feet). From this towering vantage point (is it just me, or does that seem low to be the highest point in a state that has mountains??? Isn't the Sears Tower that tall??), we could see into Maryland and across many miles of Pennsylvania.

Despite being able to drive right to the tower, we (myself and he who shall henceforth be known as "the white shadow') opted to park about a mile out and follow a trail (basically, a frozen over creek bed) through the treetops (an ice storm in 2002 knocked down the top halves of all the trees, so we really were walking through the treetops) and through varying depths of snow to our destination. By the time we go there, my pants were wet up to the knee from the snow, but it was a beautiful, sunny, not terribly cold day.

Being there made me think of all the cool little places that aren't well travelled. Sure, this was no Grand Canyon or Niagra Falls, but I've found that most of the best places to visit are the places that aren't that obvious.

So, anyone have any suggestions of other such areas to explore??

Post-hike, the white shadow and I continued on our way to other exotic and daring places (like Latrobe, PA and the Westmoreland Mall!!!). It's rare that I can wake up and be out the door by 8 am on a weekend and be able to say that it was definitely worth it.

posted by Schna @ 2:21 PM