Hiking along the North Country Trail...
Passing just north of us is a section of the North Country Trail. What's the North Country Trail you ask? Well think of it as the Appalachian Trail's longer, not so famous, northern cousin. Running from Eastern New York to Western North Dakota the
NCT connects a series of hiking trails, historic sites and scenic areas to form a 4600 mile conduit for hikers. We have done sections of it in a couple of different states over the years but recently realized we haven't done much of the local sections of the NCT. Well with a beautiful September day encouraging us to abandon our hunter/gather ways we decided to hit a section of trail we have always thought 'bout hiking but have never got around to it.
Stuffing a minimal amount of gear in the ole backpack and throwing it and ourselves into the FJ we made our way northwest into the Allegheny National forest. Cruising the forest roads I was headed towards a section of the NCT that lays between Mayburg Hill and the Hearts Content Scenic Area. This portion would see us winding through the finest hardwood forest in the world and towards the original surviving stands of ancient white pines left standing. Finally I got to put some dirt and mud under the FJ's tires...
We headed down a seldom used two track and made our way to the trailhead of choice where we left the Cruiser in the weeds...
Than we headed into the green, brown and grays of the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania...
A few miles in we came to one of the scattered camping shelters...
The picnic table at the shelter and a bit of stick made for a good rest for a couple portrait...
Than it was back into the woods...
With a bunch of forested miles under the soles of our boots and the beginnings of belly rumblings that granola bars just can't satisfy we headed back to our ride. On the way back out of the ANF we decided to trek on through Hickory Wilderness Area and do a little walking along Hickory Creek...
So after an excellent day of woods running we loaded up and headed home...
...and took care of those belly rumbles...
...with a plate of our homegrown tater and sweet corn to complement some turtle fricassee. What a great day.