On July 24th, 27 hikers braved one of the hottest days of this very hot
summer to enjoy CHC's hike on the Conestoga Trail along the bluffs of
the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. Considering the local
temperature in the mid-nineties (DC had a high of 102 that day), this
hike was modified from the originally advertised distances of 11 and 8
miles down to safer distances of 8 and 5 miles, but nobody ended up
hiking more than 6 miles.

The Conestoga Trail has a great lunch stop at Pinnacle Overlook and, on
this day, the chance to catch a cooling breeze was particularly
appreciated. But nothing could have been better than the swimming hole
on Tucquan Creek. Some people opted to jump in (photo 1), while others were happy
to just sit around and cool down (photo 2).

Other highlights of the day included the views over the Susquehanna
River (photo 3), the trails along Kellys Run and Tucquan Creek and the local
wildlife (photo 4). There were even still a few raspberries around for the
picking.

Despite the shortened hiking distances (or maybe because of it),
everyone had a great outing and nobody, other thanperhaps the hike
leader, seemed to have much difficulty with the heat. Look for a return
trip to the Conestoga Trail in the (hopefully cooler) Fall of 2011.

 

(All photos courtesy of Mark Tune)

 

Hiker about to take the plunge!

 

Cooling off in Tucquan Creek

 

View of Susquehanna River

 

Local wildlife

 

Lunch break

 

 

 

 

 

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The schedule description for the June 5 hike may have read: “Mountain laurel. Those are the only two words needed” to describe this hike, and while that would have been technically correct, it would have been like describing the top of Old Rag as “not wheelchair accessible.”

 

True, the mountain laurel cooperated perfectly, putting on a gorgeous display of blossoms ranging from deep pink buds to blush-tinted flowers to a snowy carpet of spent petals strewn along the trail (photo 1); but there were other treats to savor as well.

 

The temperature and humidity reminded us once again of why we undertake the effort to drive to the mountains from steamy DC; a gentle breeze only made it feel nicer. During the lunch break on the summit of Hawksbill, the highest point in Shenandoah National Park with a 360-degree panorama, some people put on an extra layer. The skies sometimes threatened with dark clouds and the occasional roll of distant thunder, although never a drop was felt.

 

But it was on arriving at the water tank on the hill above Skyland that most hikers found themselves paradoxically coming to a screeching halt without making a sound. A young adult black bear was foraging along the trail, chomping on seed pods, overturning rocks to snatch up the grubs and insects underneath, and only every now and then glancing in our general direction, totally unconcerned about these bizarre two-legged creatures just 15-20 yards away, tiptoeing, whispering, staring, pointing, and clicking (photos 2 and 3).

 

Frantic silent waving hushed newly-arriving hikers to avoid disturbing the Kodak moment. People stood and watched for five or ten minutes, transfixed by the close encounter with such an impressive representative of elemental Nature. Even some veterans of decades of hiking in the park pronounced it as their best ever bear-sighting.

 

On the trip home along Skyline Drive, the huge wild turkey that dashed across the road in front of the bus, then spread its wings to launch into the woods, giving us a brilliant display of its coppery plumage, put some nice icing on the cake.

 

Mountain Laurel along the AT (Claudia Seelig)

 

Black Bear (Claudia Seelig)

Black Bear (Claudia Seelig)