Training Log Archive: Funderstormin

I have been craving an early season backpacking trip to test out some gear and get a night out before the bugs descend! I've had my eye on a couple of routes in Allegheny National Forest in PA, which surprisingly is closer to me than Algonquin, but also requires no permits or reservations. I decided on the Morrison - Rimrock loop as a straightforward weekend trip and was delighted with Greg D. agreed to come with me. Although I am happy to go on these adventures alone, it is especially fun to have company in camp. I am, after all, a pretty chatty gal.

The journey down went very smoothly and we started out on the trail just after lunchtime. We planned to take the longer route to the campsite, which we later discovered is the less common route because it is a more gentle descent (and therefore also gentler ascent) than the other half of the loop. The skies were cloudy but the temperature was very comfortable and the trails were beautiful.

I always get SO EXCITED when getting near to a backcountry campsite and this was certainly no exception. The Morrison campground is an actual campground that you can boat or hike in to. There were quite a few other campers but we managed to find a quiet site away from the rowdy boaters that had a lovely flat platform for tents and was right on the water. There was no sunset, but we had a lovely fire overlooking the lake.