Seneca Creek Journey

H

hollowdweller

Joined
Sep 22, 2003
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Last Sunday thru Tuesday we did a jaunt in the Seneca Creek Back Country.

We arrived on Sunday around 4pm and headed out Big Run trail about 2 miles and set up camp.

Some nice meadows somewhat reminiscent of Laurel Fork Wilderness
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Ms HD was sharp with her skills getting the fire going and we set up camp:thumbup:
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Soon we were "smoothing it"
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I set about peeling some potatos and putting them in some foil with steaks. About the time the rain hit for sure dinner was ready and we grabbed it and wine and headed for the tent!
 
It rained nearly all night into the next day and actually made us late getting on the trail.

It was a pain in the *ss getting a fire going for coffee but we had collected a bunch of stuff and stashed it at the base of a tree hoping it might protect it. It did SOME but the length and duration of the rain still made it SLOW. Should have covered it with a rock or something.

Camp the next morning!
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Cooking firewood stash
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Coaxing the fire alive. Wish I'd have brought some more tinder fungus.
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Ms HD hiking hard
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But taking time to smooth it
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As we ascended Allegheny Mt on North Prong Trail we went thru some beautiful meadows

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Black Cherry Burl City

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Gradually we ascended and hit Allegheny Mountain trail. We had to hike 8.5 miles over the mountain and down the other side. We found this awesome campsite although a dry one about halfway and broke for some jerky. It was back in the woods off this great meadow.

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This was another great meadow a little farther on.
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We practiced our foraging skills cause this field was polluted with wild strawberries:thumbup:;)


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As we made our descent we came on a huge super slick vertical rock blocking the trail. Really too steep and thick to go up or under and around. Somebody attached a rope to a nearby tree to help but Ms Hd wound up taking a slide and putting a two massive bruises on her thigh. Nature sometimes kicks ass.

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But the pain of coming face to ass with nature was quickly alleviated by the beauty of the blooming laurel

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Hi HD!

Beautiful country. Looks a lot like are I BP in in western PA.

Consider a 3' square of plastic Covers wood. Dry place to sit. Covers pack. Kilt to keep wet off trousers on narrow trails.
 
After an 8+ mile muddy, steamy journey over the mountain I was soaked.

Jumping in the pool at the base of the falls on Seneca Creek was a MUST. DAMN! just got rid of all the sore muscles and sweat but the water took some getting used to:eek:

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Thomas Linton said:
Hi HD!

Beautiful country. Looks a lot like are I BP in in western PA.

Consider a 3' square of plastic Covers wood. Dry place to sit. Covers pack. Kilt to keep wet off trousers on narrow trails.
Click to expand...

Hey Tom! Long time no see. Good idea. The whole trip the wife and I were jonesing for part of the sheet of tyvek we had at home to set on!
 
Due to all the rain the fire was an ordeal again but finally had a huge fire that night and then this small one for coffee the next day.

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The final day was 7.5 miles up Seneca Creek Trail then onto Toms Lick Trail and then Allegheny Mt Trail back to our car, like around an 18 mile loop.

Trying out my multi cultural backpacking gear. Kaavu Chilba hat and Mountain Hardwar Hiking kilt.

This get up make sure you don't have anybody camping close:o:p

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We came to the campsite that has an old millstone as a table but for some reason it was in the creek. Don't know if flooding carried it there or some *sshole rolled it in!

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This is the site of the old Judy Springs Campground. I think at one time you could drive in to it.

Some horse campers staying there.
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After we turned up Toms Lick we ran into a spruce forest with some of the most impressive Amanitas I've seen. Looked like an old fairy tale.

The pic doesnt do this one justice it was 10" in dameter.
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Here's a semi obscene immature one

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Thomas Linton said:
You really did take to that knife, didn't ya' ?
Click to expand...

A true favorite! Always start the fire with it and a firesteel.

Ms HD's fave is that little Bark River Micro 2 she's wearing in the neck sheath. She started the fire with it a time or two also.
 
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Anyway after that the trail was both uphill for a LONG way, and muddy. We got rained on on the way out and between the sweat mud and humidity it was a total body slickness!

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Horses really make it hard on backpackers when it's muddy.

Finally much later than anticipated due to the rain the first morning setting us back 4 hours we arrived at our car.

We promptly drove down to the Glade Creek Dispersed Camping area, and jumped in Glade Creek and washed the sweat off, changed clothes and had the traditional Bologna sandwich (albeit on olive bread and with sprouts) and beer ( My Homebrews:thumbup: )
Oh and one more knife porn shot for Tom;)

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Way cool pictures .always like the camp fire and cooking post.What state is that in and what was the temp?
 
Looks like a great trip. It reminds me of the trips I used to take in the Adirondacks when it would rain all the time. I like the pool on Seneca Creek.
 
Great trip report HD! I was going to comment on your wife’s hiking skirt and say it looks very comfortable…other than looking odd, I’m sure your kilt was a pretty good experience. I just don’t think I could muster the balls:D to wear one, but they do look very functional and much more “breezy” in this hot, humid SE.

Such a beautiful area, thanks for sharing…

ROCK6
 
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