June 6-8 2007

Early on the morning of July 12, 2007, six scouts and two leaders, met in the early morning to embark on a strenuous journey through the wilds of Tioga county.  We arrived at the outfitters around 11:00AM, ate our lunch, then began our adventure on the west Rim Trail of the Grand Canyon of PA.  We hiked six arduous miles with very heavy packs the first day.  That night we camped at a hard-to-get-to campsite in a ravine, that was very pleasant none the less.  After dark we received the most rain we encountered the entire trip.  We also had visitors.  Besides Matt's invisible attacking squirrels, we were visited by unusual fireflies.  They were floating orbs resembling pixies or perhaps specters of past hikers come to check up on us.  the next day some of the group hiked 10 miles, the rest of us hiked eight (accidental shortcut).  We set up camp at the most amazing overlook on the trip.  That evening a heavy fog enveloped us and gave an other-worldly feeling to the camp.  the next day we hiked another 10 miles which found us at our last campsite.  The last day was a mostly downhill four miles.  The drive home with an outdoor lunch at a Pizza Hut (we were much to odoriferous to sit indoors) and a stop to drop off the multi-blistered Josh ended at the Scout House late in the afternoon.

The party of eight- Matt Bortner, Dan Vuono, the Josh triplets - Betty, Gladfelter and Miller, Josiah Shelly, Mr Shelly and Mr Weller all seemed to enjoy themselves.  They anxiously await their next backpacking adventure.

See all about it - click the link below.

all pictures are courtesy Mr Shelly