Any backpackers in this group?

[caz]

I am going to be taking my first backpacking trip in almost 10 years! Looking for a weekend hike around 10 miles. Going to be taking two ten year olds and an 8 year old(with dads).

We will be starting on a Saturday, overnight camping and finishing on Sunday.

Any suggestions on a trail?

Thanks,
Andy

 

[brosie]

The Pinnacle section of the Appalachian trail might be a good option. You would drop a car where the trail crosses route 61 in Hamburg near Cabelas and then start from the Hamburg water authority. This is just one option which should be about 10 miles for this section of the trail. Another option is to set up camp at Blue Rocks Campground and then do 2 day hikes (instead of carrying all the gear). There are two trails leading from the campground to the Appalachian trail which put you out in the Pulpit Rock and Pinnacle sections. There isn't usually dependable water sources on this section of the Appalachian because the majority of this section is on the crest.

 

[caz]

Thanks Chris,

Is that area really rocky? I know the areas around 501 are just about ridiculous!

 

[brosie]

It is mostly rocky terrain, but not like boulders that you're climbing over. There is a side trail off this section of the Appalachian that that goes to Hawk Mountain. This section does have a lot of boulders that you're climbing over.

 

[joabmc]

Might be a little out of your range Andy, but the Midstate Trail is nice in my area.
You can pick up the Midstate at 322 near the top of the 7 mtns and hike to either Poe Valley or Poe Paddy. The hike is just around 10 miles and you can camp and fish and either of the parks depending how far you want to go. I believe Poe Valley is a 6 mile hike and Poe Paddy is 10. If you have a couple of Dads, you can park a vehicle at the destination to double back and grab the one at the top of the mountain.

 

[thegadgetguy]

I've done the Pinnacle before. Great view at the top. I think it was something like 2 miles to the top from where we started, but we did an extra loop on the way down and it ended up being 8 miles overall. That wasn't a backpacking trip though - just a day hike.

 

[AaronM33]

How do you feel about staying in an AT shelter? The one on Peter's Mountain east of the 225 trailhead is really neat, like a cabin with a corner missing. It has a spring but that's a couple hundred yard hike down the north side of the mountain and back. The Rausch Gap shelter is only a couple years old and has a neat layout as well. It has a spring right there, and a creek close by if the spring is dry. Either one of these places has easy routes in/ out and neat scenery nearby.

Amazon has the ATC 5 map PA set if you wanna check out where they are relative to trailheads etc. You'll need the maps anyway when you go. Both places can be reached easily in short weekend hikes that aren't the rockiest parts of the AT, IMHO.

Planning it also depends if you'll have 2 cars or wanna loop back but there are lots of possibilities for neat AT hikes.

Another one I've never done but sounds really neat is Laurel Highlands trail out near Pittsburgh. Google that for more info. It's a loop I believe.

 

[Vulin]

I do alot of trail running around the area. The conestoga (well 10 miles of it) are a great hike. The Mason Dixon on the York side of the river is a good long trail. The horseshoe can be good in some areas, however its being slowly wiped out like the conestoga. Ive run some section of the Appalachian, but never done anything overnight.