It had been dark a while by the time I joined the others at camp, pulling the borrowed Jetta in beside the iconic yellow van and trailer full of boats of every shape and size and color. I was greeted by familiar faces and warm hugs of people I hadn't seen in a year, since …
The day(s) of Dirt Fest.
For those attending, it lasted 3 days. For those of us helping to make it happen, it was more than a week of concentrated effort, of thinking only of Dirt Fest, and of making sure that the event went as smoothly as it could possibly go. The houseboat arrived on Monday, and we had one …
The ice commute.
It was early, just after dawn. I glanced at the thermometer on the porch. 3 degrees Fahrenheit. Which meant that away from the protected alcove of our cabin, it was even colder. It was just cold enough to make me second guess my decision to commute to town by bicycle this morning. I thought about …
Riding on ice.
In the past year since I tried a fat bike for the first time, my definition of mountain biking has been completely redefined, and my conceptions of what can be done on a bicycle have been reshaped time and time again. I've gone places I never would have thought to go---in the snow, along the …
Frozen Fat, Day 2.
After a more leisurely start on Sunday and a change of venue from Rothrock State Forest to Lake Raystown, riders gathered in the Bakers Hollow Lot, ready to begin a second day of fat-biking. Today's ride was a bit different than Saturday---more casual, but punctuated by various "stages" or mini-events that riders could compete in …
A couple hours on Trough Creek.
When it comes to paddling in Central Pennsylvania, Trough Creek (aka Great Trough Creek) is undoubtedly one of my favorite spots. Nestled in a forested, rocky gorge, the class II-III run offers just enough whitewater to be fun without being too nerve-wracking. But it's an illusive gem, only runnable at high water after a heavy …
A fat-tire’d, mud-slingin’, rock-skippin’ Sunday.
Lately, the world of mountain biking for those of us living in the vicinity of Raystown Lake has changed a bit. This fall, the Army Corps of Engineers is drawing down the level of the lake more than twice the usual seasonal 2-3 feet in order to perform shoreline maintenance. For those of us with …
Continue reading "A fat-tire’d, mud-slingin’, rock-skippin’ Sunday."
The length of the lake, and a little bit more.
Last week, knowing that we both had off on Friday and that we were both in need of an all-day outdoor adventure, Evan and I had a very brief conversation that ended with the decision that we would paddle the entire length of the 30-mile-long Raystown Lake. And so, we woke up just before 5am, …
Continue reading "The length of the lake, and a little bit more."
The last day of summer.
A ghostly mist hung in the forest as I stepped outside into the cool, early hours of the day. Watched by a sleepy dog, I performed the morning ritual, grinding coffee beans and boiling water for that necessary start to my day. But this morning, there will be none of the usual mulling over a …
Happiness.
I’m having one of those days when I am so unbelievably happy that I am smiling to myself for no reason whatsoever. So happy I want to laugh out loud, even though nothing is that funny. So happy I want to dance, just because. I am satisfied with the present, content to be right where …
helena kotala 