Staff Ladies in the Sticks

Grace, Sarah, and I went backpacking on the Archer's Fork Loop Trail in Wayne National Forest.  Thanks to Andrea and BethAnn being willing to cook for the work group in our absence we were able to go on our off-duty days, Wednesday and Thursday, October 24 & 25.  They even cooked Tuesday night supper for the work group and the Explorers so we could spend two nights in the woods and make our trip more worth-while.  Due to our many responsibilities we got started about an hour later than we would have liked.  We had intended to hike in and set up camp in the last hour of remaining daylight but instead we drove the scenic, winding, mountain road as the sun was casting shadows in the hollows.  We oohed and ahhed at the fascinating terrain and lovely colors of the autumn foliage.  In the dark we missed the tiny letters at the top of the Shay Rd sing identifying it as also being the Twp. Rd. 34 that we were so eager to find.  As we wound up and down on passed it Grace became more and more sure we had missed our road so we turned around for a better look.  We were very happy to be on the last leg of our journey but didn't realize how many more times we would be unsure which way to take.  The trails aren't intended for night time hiking and consequently are not marked with glow-in-the-dark paint so we faltered around on a rutted, water-logged trail for a while before we turned around and found the trail head behind us.

Finding a campsite int eh dark can be tricky so we decided to sleep in the cave.  

There wasn't much wood around but luckily we had brought a few pieces to get the fire started and by the time that was going we had chopped through a branch several times with a hatchet to gain a few more logs for our fire.  

Grace and Sarah LOVE smores so here Grace is whittling a roasting stick.  We had a dreadful time getting the knife to close.  We passed it around several times each trying our hand at it.  I even cut myself when I was trying to open a different blade because I thought maybe you had to open another one to close this one.  Turns out that was the case but I didn't hit on the right blade. Sarah finally figured it out and we put the knife back in the pouch.  

We gathered a bunch of leaves in the bags we had brought to protect our packs from rain and made a cozy little spot to spread our tarp on the hard, rock bottom of the cave.  

 Our food had lots of ash in it because the smoke went up and hit the blackened roof of the cave and came plummeting back down right into the water heating for coffee.

We get to cook all the time but cooking out doors like this was something different and exciting.  I was very pleased with this set-up because the pot was suspended from the two branches and while the coal-making fire was blazing close by it wasn't scorching our breakfast.  Hot coals could easily be raked over and added under the pot as needed.  

During the night we thought we heard it raining but found out in the morning that in truth it had only been raining leaves!

Sarah is quite happy and chipper with her morning cup of campfire coffee.  We took our time getting up in the morning and just relaxed and enjoyed our cavey little campsite. 

When we got ready to hike out we readjusted the straps on our packs to make them more comfortable and easier to manage.  There are SO many ways to adjust the straps so we readjusted them almost every time we stopped but the fact remained that they were still heavy even though we had opted to leave behind both the tent and the cooking grate.  

We took lots of breaks and sometimes took off our packs and napped in the carpet of leaves on the trail.

The leaves were ankle-deep and we had to pick up our feet if we wanted to hear each other talking.  We heard lots of rustling in the leaves and figured out that the biggest noises were made by the smallest creatures.  At night we heard thumping noises accompanied by very little rustling and decided it must have been a deer.  We heard owls (or something) screeching and coyotes howling and wished for stout sticks in case something came too close.  

We hadn't done much research beforehand so for quite a while we weren't even sure if we were on the right trail.  We were very happy when we came upon this sign.  It feels so much more worth-while hiking on if you know you won't have to retrace your steps.

We all took turns cooking and washing dishes, stuffing sleeping bags, and pumping water from the creek through a filter.  

For the most part we were quite comfortable and cheery but our backpacking trip gave us a greater appreciation and respect for chiefs and campers that go on trips.  I will try harder than ever to make sure they have every little thing they order for their menus and a can-opener that works!

We had lovely trails to hike and beautiful scenery.  The second day turned out to be a bit more grueling than we imagined.  We thought the whole trail was 9.5 miles but according to our calculations by the brown, plastic 1/4 mile markers we hiked 9 miles in 4 hours UP and DOWN those ridges!  

We were so happy to get to the natural bridge which we knew was close to the end of the trail.

By the time we got to the car we were exhausted and very happy to find a different mode of transportation.  However, we wouldn't trade our trip for anything and are so glad we had this opportunity.  We can't wait to do it again!

Here are some articles by my fellow-hikers, Grace and Sarah, in that order.

Getaway to Archer's Fork

Our camp fire crackles cheerily and a light breeze dusts ashes over our relaxing trio of lady staff from Ohio Boys' Camp.  Since we didn't at first recognize the mile markers for what they are, Judith, Sarah, and I have no guesstimate of how many miles we hiked today, but one thing's for sure, it's great to enjoy the scenery of Archer's Fork Loop trail from this comfy, tarp-covered pile of leaves!  Another fact is plain: hiking with loaded packs is no joke.  My shoulders, collar bone, and hips protested every time I heaved my pack onto my back after a break.  We took a lot of breaks and relished every moment stretched out on the leafy trail in the loving October sun.  If our backs were groaning our stomachs certainly weren't.  We brought plenty of tasty trail mix and food for our menus.  Cooking directly over an open fire has been a real delight.  We have an awesome campsite tonight and last night we slept in the huge cave.  It's really been a party!

As we slowly wake up in our warm, comfy mummy bags we can hear the birds singing merrily in the trees around us.  What a great morning!  And what a great way to wake up!  but oh! as we start moving about we start feeling a bit sore here and there from the back packs we carried the day before.  My turn to do the cooking so good-bye sleeping bag and hello world!  Brrr! Not used to waking up outside but it is very lovely.  I dig in my pack for a lighter and shriek with laughter when a forgotten pair of guys underwear pops out!  Soon I have a roaring fire blazing in the predawn light of early morning.  Coffee of course has got to be a priority and soon we are drinking the rich, hot liquid.  Bacon and eggs on the menu so pretty soon we are munching on crisp bacon, scrambled eggs, and cheese wraps.  Mmm!  We top off our delicious breakfast with peaches and kiwi, pack up our gear and take to the trail once more.  Thanks for a great hiking trip guys! (or gals)

Improvements at Pine Loft

BANG! Bang! bang! at 6:00 in the morning the guys started hammering the board and battan siding onto our house.  The only problem with them starting so early was that it was the cooks' day off and we were inside, still sleeping.  Well, not sleeping for long!  There was some "unproductive hammering" going on that was just too annoying to sleep through. :)  We've been living in a "Tyvek" house for some time now so when I heard the guys talking about working on the house I asked what time they were starting.  Thinking to annoy me they said they would start at six.  Of course I scoffed at this because out here we are a little more laid-back than in Lancaster Co. and 6:00 is pretty early for any real work to begin.  I told them IF they started working at 6:00 I'd give them breakfast by 8:00 so I guess they took that as a dare and did it!  They got a lot done and I felt is was very worth waking up at 6:00 to have our house looking so much better.  I have pictures but for some reason they won't load although I've tried several times. 

Another improvement in Pine Loft is that we now have wireless internet.  It is still very slow but at least it's a connection!  We will also be getting our own phone line after a while.  The number will be: 740-838-4900.

The First Dinner Party at Pine Loft

 Since we cooks have off in the middle of the week and most of the socializing is centered on the weekend when chiefs have off we don't often have people over for meals.  We decided it was time to change that and invited the Thompson and Swartz youth along with Chief Matt who is currently in training to come to our house for supper Thursday evening.  It was lots of fun to set a nice table again and we dined in style on chicken parmigiana, fettucine Alfredo, and green beans with slivered almonds.  After supper we cleaned up, played games, and then had a light dessert of rosettes. 

 You know you have company when... there are a lot of shoes at the door that aren't yours!  It's so muddy around here that we have a custom of taking our shoes off as soon as we enter someone's dwelling.

 ROOK!

 A strange, new way to play - take out not only the 2s,3s,and 4s - but also the 6s,7s,8s, and 9s.

 Josiah and John trying to eat rosettes without having their picture taken.  They are both from families of lots of girls so they stick together pretty tightly.  Not pictured are the younger brothers, Silas and Philip, who are also happy to have each other.  The Swartz have recently moved to the area since their father, Amos, started working here as family worker.  They add a whole new dynamic and now we actually have a bit of a youth group.  It's lots of fun but the supervisors have been heard muttering, "The cooks party too much!" so I guess we'll have to invite them sometime so they aren't so jealous. :)

Tabitha, Joanna, and Diana helping to sugar the rosettes.  We girls have lots of fun together.  There are so many things you can do when you are with so many fun people!