every day's an adventure
In late February, I spent a weekend hiking and biking in the Quehanna Wild Area with my friend Emma. If you missed Part 1, check it out here for a history of the area and rainy day exploration on foot. Day 2: Change of plans – again. Something felt off on Sunday morning. Maybe it …
The Quehanna Wild Area is the largest state forest wild area in the state of Pennsylvania, covering just over 48,000 acres and boasting herds of native elk, the largest stand of white birch in the eastern United States and an interesting nuclear history. In the 50's, the land that would eventually become the wild area …
Last Saturday, I did my first trail running event since Hyner in 2013 – the Mile Run Trail Challenge half marathon. Those 13 miles and the training run I did of the same distance a few weeks ago were also the farthest I've run at all since 2013. I rediscovered mountain biking that year so …
I got dropped from the beginning. Now, just to be clear, not "dropped" in the traditional roadie sense of the word that implies that my group just kept going without any regard as to if I made the correct turn or was okay or not. I don't ride with people who would do that. But …
To use a favorite analogy of my coworker Karl, life is like spinning a bunch of plates in the air, trying to keep them from crashing to the ground and shattering into a million pieces. I tend to think of my own life like a Venn diagram with five circles: Exercise/outdoor adventure, work, home, a …
I took a break from my run and stood in the middle of the trail, looking at the unending ribbon of slush-covered rocks ahead. My feet and ankles were starting to ache from sliding and trying to catch my balance. I'd gone about 2 miles but it felt like 10. I looked at my phone for …
We've had a streak of extra cold temps lately, with daytime highs in the 10-15 degree Fahrenheit range and lows at night regularly dipping below zero. In fact, I can't remember the last time it was above freezing. Before Christmas, I guess. When it comes to getting outside for my usual outdoor activities, the uber-freezing …
New Years Resolutions are funny things. When I was younger I'd fully subscribe to the "New Year, New You" notion, make my list of all the things I wanted to achieve in the next 365 days, believe that with the turning of the calendar from one number to the next, everything would change. Starting today, …
Riding my bike is my best attempt to defy my weaknesses. This thought popped into my head one morning earlier this summer as I was enjoying a solo "ride before the ride" on the Allegrippis Trails. Later, I'd be meeting up with some friends for what I knew would be a pretty casual roll, so …
It's becoming more apparent that fall is on its way. The katydids are calling. A few leaves have fallen. Days are noticeably shortening, to the point where last night I was surprised to be ending our ride in darkness. But we soak up the last of the summer, the beginning of the end of evening rides …
