Less Traveled Hiking Paths

I grew up in an area now referred to as "The Wilds" -- surrounded by Pennsylvania State Parks. Patterson State Park, Cherry Springs State Park, Leonard Harrison State Park and Kettle Creek State Park to name a few. According to The Pennsylvania Wilds it's "a two million acre landscape composed of twelve distinct and beautiful counties, each with its own unique heritage, character, charm and outdoor adventure."





I also grew up poor. But gas was cheap back then. Lots of lazy, hazy, crazy days of Summer would find the family piled in the car with the windows down. Driving around some back road to see where it came out. Circling around to find the best spot to see the sun rise or set or 'how many hills can we count from this vista?'. Followed by a visit to the Tastee Freeze for a small cone before heading back home.

Once home we'd sit on the front porch. Grown-ups in the chairs. Kids staggered on the stairs and stretched out on the porch. Watching the sun set over the hill. Listening to the birds sing their "thank you for another day" songs as they bedded down for the night. Pink sky fading to deep blue and then to black. Then the tree- and bull-frogs would come out to serenade us with their orchestra. Unless they felt a vibration or heard a noise. Then there would be silence. Only to start again moments later - tentatively at first. Growing louder until you could hear them echo off the surrounding hills. Feeling the evening breeze caress our skin as it carries the light scent of  old-fashioned Sweet Pea flowers that Gran had trained into a lush foundation planting. Knowing that all was right with the world. Enjoying the moment of being safe and secure and content in the world.

Being poor taught us to enjoy the simple things in life. Like moon rises. Like corny jokes.

With memories like this it should come as no surprise to find that I'm a nature lover. (Ya. I agree - abrupt transition, but it brought you back around to reality, eh?) With the exception of the dead of Winter, Bandit and I are usually out and about: Exploring.

I still live in the Pennsylvania Wilds -- just a different county than the one I grew up in. Here there are so many developed hiking trails it's a wonder anyone is overweight. There are also miles of unused dirt roads built by the oil and gas industry. Here are a few pictures from our last exploration of one such road in LaFayette Township.