Trips Past - Casparis Mine 2014

"I've made an odd discovery. Every time I talk to a savant I feel quite sure that happiness is no longer a possibility. Yet when I talk with my gardener, I'm convinced of the opposite."

-Bertrand Russell

 Casparis Mine 2014

This trip I meant to explore the mines for the majority of the time. However it seems due to instability of the mine and the presence of an endangered species the mine was sealed (right). There was supposed to be a natural cave nearby to enter into the same system, I searched but never found it. 

                                                            This was a little bit of a let down but the count is beautiful there. I still explored the area and enjoyed my self thoroughly.

The nearby train tracks were very active and I found lot of beautiful scenery.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              


A scenic overlook where i ran into a local hunter.   









 I got a bit frosty (left)

All the colors of Autumn on one branch (right).



Some oddities found out there. Somebody lost a tail light on this boulder, I don't know what the ladder was doing out there, the cart i assume was a hunter, and someone some where had a bad day to lose a boot out here.           

Wish List - Greater Allegheny Passage Pittsburgh to DC

"I remember a hundred lovely lakes, and recall the fragrant breath of pine and fir and cedar and poplar trees.
The trail has strung upon it, as upon a thread of silk, opalescent dawns and saffron sunsets."

-Hamlin Garland

Wish List - Pittsburgh to D.C. via The GAP 

     The GAP, or Greater Allegheny Passage, is another rail-trail project that's 150 miles between Cumberland, MD, and Pittsburgh, PA. It joins up with C&O Canal Towpath In Cumberland giving you a 335 mile long trail to Washington, DC. For more information click on the links above.

    This will be a little different as I plan to bike it. Ill use a lot of the same gear, making camp along the way, trip shouldn't be more than three weeks round trip with time to check out DC.I have biked 100 miles in a single day.

Gear Review - Wood Cutting

Gear Review - Wood Cutting

The Hand Chain Saw

This is basically a chainsaw blade with handles on both ends of it. Below you'll see a demonstration of it in action. The branch in the photo is about 3 inches in diameter. Simply wrap it around the branch and start to alternate pulling on the handles.I personally don't carry this anymore because it just is not as good as an axe.

Pros 

    - Light and compact

    - Works very well when it works

Cons

    - Tendency to "bind up" within wood.

    - Really no good for anything beyond a 3-4 inch diameter. 

    - Very difficult to cut down a standing tree.

Smith and Wesson Tomahawk

This axe is modeled after a combat military axe. Its 15.9 inches long and just a hair under 3 lbs. The handle is full tang with a pick end opposite the cutting edge. Not a bad axe but I expected the pick to be more useful than it turned out.  Make no mistake, it will flatten tires, break glass  and doors, but not much use on the trail. Also, I expected more weight at the head of the axe but its all in the handle. This matters because more weight in the head, combined with leverage from the length of the handle, the greater the force the cutting edge comes down.

Pros                                                                            Cons

    - Good length                                                             -Poor weight distribution

    - Solid construction (you WILL NOT break it)         -Rounded cutting edge not ideal

   

Gerber Camp Axe

A pretty simple axe with a polymer handle. Its about 16 inches and 2 lbs 7 oz. This has become my favorite axe, the overall length and weight is good, and since almost all the weight is at the head it gives you a boost in chopping force. Not as intimidating as the tomahawk, but its practical.

Pros
    - Overall weight good                                       
    - good length                                    Cons
    - ideal weight distribution                   - Guessing the handle wont hold up to a lot of abuse (mishits)

Gerber Hand Axe

This axe is almost identical to the Camp Axe just a shorter handle, making it easier to pack. You wont honestly see a lot of difference except maybe a little less power per swing than the larger axe.

Pros

    - Overall weight good                                       

    - ideal weight distribution

Cons
    - A little short

 

Wish List - Casparis Cave

"My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth's loveliness."

-Michelangelo

The Casparis Caves are actually local in Connersville PA, and barring any unexpected issues I plan to go next week Nov 7. The caves where once a limestone quarry that was abandoned. Now the area is a state game land with a single road that I'm told you need a jeep or similar off road vehicle to traverse. I plan to just hike it from the main road, thoroughly explore the caves, and head back. just two nights and three days, maybe more like two and a half.
  
 
To the left is a pic from the cave exterior.

Relative to my normal hike this will be much shorter hiking ditance, I am leaving myself a great amount of time for exploring the cave.

http://www.faywest.com/casparis-mine/

http://wikimapia.org/10258763/Casparis-Cave

Hopefully ill get the chance to see some these sights while I'm there. 

You wont find a lot of information on this unfortunately. My friend Tim Williams was there and described a large chamber big enough to have a "cloud" formation in it(below). He said it was a humid day so maybe that's a factor. Regardless I am excited about this trip. Since i cant find any good info ill record distance and elevation for the hike. Look for this in the "Trips Past" soon!

Photo from Tim Williams

Trips Past - NCT in State Game Lands # 45 2014

"The good man is the friend of all living things."

- Mahatma Gandhi

 

 

 

North Country Trail in State Game lands #45, 2014

This trek turned into to a last minute improve situation. Paraphrasing Robert Burns "The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry". We set out intent on trekking a small c shaped section of the NCT in Kennerdale PA and going off trail so we can loop back around. It was meant to be 16 miles and two days one night, nothing difficult. However the information I had was wrong or outdated, as the section of trail there turns into a paved bike trail. Not exactly what we where looking for. So we found some maps and went searching for nearby trails in the area and settled on another section of the NCT running through state game-lands 45.

      The hike ended up only being 10 miles and while this section of trail is not without its positive qualities, I was not overly impressed.

We did come across this impossible boulder (right). You may not be able to tell but its bigger an old school Buick and that column in the bottom left is all that supports it. If you look closely you can see that others have carved their names in it, bottom right corner. Earliest date i could make out was 1974, so the rocks been up a while. Even saw signs someone made camp under it.

As much as I enjoy taking pictures of human development or objects on trails it also saddens me some (left).

       Below a couple shots of our camp site. I was living in luxary in my tent (right) while Tim roughed it with a bivy or bivouac sack (left).  In the middle you'll see the firepit we spent way too much effort on considering it was just one night.

Trips Past - North Country Trail 2014

"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

-William Shakespeare

 

The NCT

The North Country Trail System is massive, stretching across 7 states and 4600 miles. As the name suggest the trail goes through the northern parts of the country.

I went out with a group of SRU students and faculty for two nights and two days. Admittedly, since i didn't plan for this, I didn't put a heavy emphasis on the trip details. But I believe it was about 24 miles and out where the trail goes into the Allegheny National Forest. I did however take a tremendous amount of pictures.

 One benefit of hiking with new people is you see how others are packing, cooking, or whatever and learn. Eventually you'll be teaching others. Below I have a some pictures of our camp sights.

Some creatures I came by to the right.

Scenic shots below. Unfortunately there some oil something going on here. 

And to the bottom left a tiny women hugging a giant tree. Ha ha.

Nature is truly beautiful.

Trail blaze to the left, most trails are marked out with these.

The NCT is just too large to summarize. But if your going through the Allegheny National Forest you probably don't want it to be your first trip out.

Wishlist - Appalachian Trail

"We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and our hearts."

 -William Hazlitt

 

The A.T.

Since my first trip I thought about making this journey. The AT is over 2000 miles long and crosses 14 states from Georgia to Maine. Most people take 6 months to complete this. Most people don't try to do the whole thing at once. 

I am saving this for after I graduate. Hopefully by then I will have fine tuned all my packing. 

I hope, that one day, I will be one of those who have completed the AT. I can not imagine any thing that can test your endurance better and I can only imagine how it must feel after reaching the trails end. 

Gear Review - Water Filters

Water Filters    

 Quite possibly the most important piece of equipment you'll need is your water filter. Water is key to survival and contaminated water can actually cause you to dehydrate. You can always pack your water but you are going to significantly increase your carry weight. Ill be reviewing just the water purifiers I have used personally.
      It would benefit you to learn some basics about water purification.
Quick info

Filtration Type:

UV light, chemical, activated carbon, membrane, and evaporation/boiling is about all you should encounter hiking.

Pre-filter: 

used to filter large particles before reaching filter, prolongs filter life and increases flow rate.
Micron:
Standard unit of measurement on mechanical filters. Its 0.000001 in meters. Important to note virtually no viruses are smaller than 0.02 microns.
Rate of Flow:
rate at wich your water will be filtered
Filter Type (How H20 pushes through):
The common methods are pump, gravity, and squeeze. 

My Recommendation - A good membrane filter  that is pump or squeeze operated and carry P-Tabs as a backup. Why? I just plain dont trust UV filters, and dont like to rely on anything battery operated. Boiling, evaporation, chemical, and all gravity operated filters take too long. Activated carbon is not ideal for viruses but is good for chemicals and taste.

Reviews

LifeSaver Bottle 

pros: 

- filters down to 0.015 microns

- also has activated carbon filter

- built in prefilter

- can also carry water within it

cons:

- expensive $170

- bulky

- slow rate of flow for any amount greater than what the bottle holds

- limited filter life

The life saver will work anywhere, I have drank from swamps, sewer outlets, and road runoffs to test it with no ill effects. Water actually taste quite good. However, since its bulky, heavy, and difficult to refill other containers with I don't take it out anymore.

MSR SweetWater

pros:

- easy to use

- great flow rate

- designed to work with standardized size water bottles. 

- built in prefilter

cons:

- limited filter life

- bulky

- filters to 0.2 microns

The MSR SweetWater is a good filter at a mid-range price ($80).  Fill your water bottles or packs quickly and easy. The absolute filter rating of 0.2 microns is actually standard and should cover virtually all bacteria and %99.9 of viruses. 

Sawyer Squeeze Filter System

pros:

- cheap

- light and small

- filters to 0.1 microns

- good rate of flow

- filter virtually last forever (1 million gallons)

- can be squeeze or gravity

cons:

- not easy to use

- no prefilter

The Sawyer Squeeze System is great. Ideal for ultra-lightweight  backpacking. The filter itself is great. But its system of pouches you fill and squeeze through is not as easy as it sounds, water pressure tends to keep the pouch crushed when you try to fill it. Don't misunderstand, it will work, but its just not as easy as some of the others out there. Currently this is what i use, with my own modded hand pump attachment (still fine tuning that). The smaller version has a shorter filter life but same quality filter.

The Basics

 The Basics

I put some information resources for absolute beginners below. 

http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-beginners.html

http://www.backpacker.com/skills/first-aid/backpacking-basics/

Unfortunately, however many experienced backpackers you speak too is however many different answers you'll get on what gear to pack. In addition to these list, id like to list some lesson I learned, typically by trial and error.

 Test your gear- Before you go out and NEED your gear test it. Go on a day-hike or just an overnight with your pack, boots, tent, sleeping bag or pad.

 Keep it light and small- Try to avoid bulky or heavy items, the same goes for food. You don't have to buy expensive freeze dried meals though. Raymen noodles, mac and cheese, tuna pouches, peanut butter, and oatmeal are all good examples. 

Water is life-  You can go at least a week without food, some people can go much longer, but nobody can last long without water. In the event you end up without drinkable water but still have food, DO NOT EAT. Eating will dehydrate you faster without continuing to consume water.

Get a good pack- My first time out I thought it was ridiculous to spend money  a backpack. However, there is a lot that goes into the design and distirbution of weight in these packs. Its hard to appreciate the need until you've hiked 20 or more miles with just 30 pounds on your back. 

More money does not mean better quality- Do research on the products, especially before an expensive purchase. As an example, sleeping pads. you can pay upwards of two hundred dollars on an inflatable sleeping pad. It may be good, but a cheap foam sleeping pad is hard to beat. the only down side is foam is bulkier. You can simply roll it up and attach it to the outside of your pack. 

Head lamps are great - They range greatly in features and prices but you should get one. In general head lamps are lighter, more convient, better on batteries, and often brighter than traditional flashlights. Plus, you still have both hands free. You can even geat a cheap one from a hardware store.

Bring parachute 550 cord - Para-cord or 550 cord is light weight, compact, supports a lot of weight, and is very useful on the trails. You can use it to hang your bag or trash, dry clothes, to make shelter, improved first aid just to name a couple uses. You can find it lots of places and its cheap. 

Start off small - Your first trip out probably shouldn't be more than twenty miles. A good place to test gear or go on a simple trip is the abandoned PA turnpike. 

 

Trips Past - Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail 2013

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

-Albert Einstein

The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is a 70 mile stretch from Ohiopyle, OH to Johnstown, PA. For this trip, my friend (Tim Williams) and I started at the access point at the 38.2 mile marker and hiked to the zero mile marker. Just 3 days two nights. The LHHT is good trail and freindly for beginners with camp sites every 6 miles or so and numerous access points throughout. If you want to plan a trip all the info you need is available here. Keep in mind that on this trail you have to camp in the designated camp sites and you need to reserve ahead of time. 

The reservation is actually for a three walled shelter with a fireplace. They are actually nice, and may be ideal for someone who is not ready to sleep on the ground yet. Above you'll find some pictures of the shelters. Fireplaces make starting a fire much easier for those whose survival skills are a little lacking. 

 

Tim and I

The trails are well marked and maintained, every other group we encountered were friendly. The terrain changes dramatically through the trail you can get maps and elevation maps from the same website. You may want to make sure you take advantage of water sources before starting up a hill, you'll find a lot less water on climbs up and down. 

During our trip, an unexpected winter storm came through. All these pictures were taken on the same three day trip. Because of all the elevation changes i recommend walking sticks to reduce impact on your joints.

There were a couple of interesting sites on our path. The trail actually takes straight up the slopes at Seven Springs (Left). We found an old family graveyard (Right).

And whatever this is to the right.

Overall the LHHT is a great trail for beginner to intermediate hikers and may be a good place for you to start.

Welcome

“ There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy and its charm. ”

- Theodore Roosevelt
26th President of the United States

Welcome!!!

Welcome to Mysterious Wilderness. This page is all about backpacking, specifically minimalist survival backpacking. For those who don't know, backpacking is like camping but with a destination. I'm going to review gear weekly and alternate between discussing trips i have done and those that i plan on doing. Hopefully, I can get you interested and informed to get out there.

Backpacking will test you. 

You have only what you carry and every ounce is a burden. It requires planning, determination, stamina, fortitude, and willpower. Poor planning can leave you stranded, injured, or dead.

My friend Tim when an unexpected winter storm hit us during a trip.

Why do I do this? 

First, its liberating. It may be hard to imagine for some, but having no cellphone, Facebook, meetings, traffic, cars, or society can be so freeing. Its simple tranquility and serene nature.  Second, it builds character. When you triumphantly emerge from the wilderness you will know yourself better. You will understand your limits and surpass them. Third, you simply cannot experience nature anywhere that you can drive to. Finally, it gives me the skills to survive the zombie apocalypse (joke).

Just a casual one day hike. Left to right, Me, Leah, and Rob.