this weekends trip to the cabin

[bigben]

we decided that this weekend would be a good time to go to our cabin in northern Cumberland county.  it isn't much other then a rustic cabin but a lot of good times have been had.  I ended up packing the bronco up and heading to the mountain around 4:30.  The plan was to get a fire going and get some stuff setup till the other cousins and uncles and aunt would show up.  I got a lot of pics also

On the way up.  a few weeks ago there was 30+ inches of snow at this spot.


Here is a pic of the final leg to the cabin.  We just added onto the porch. 


I had a bunch of food to make for supper Friday night.  The menu included grilled bell peppers and onions with steak sandwichs
 

I did some whole wings also.  I seasoned em with a dry rub after they were finished grilling. 


Clams on the grill


I was also my cousins birthday this weekend so we were kinda celebrating friday night.  My cousin is the one sitting underneath the lantern.  My aunt is sitting beside him.  This is the only inside pic I got.



On Saturday morning I woke up and made breakfast for the group.  After getting some chow in our bellies most of us headed back home to do the honey do lists that many guys have.  we were coming back up that night for round two.  I decided I wanted to do some hiking on Saturday so around noon time I started up a trail that leads to the top of the mountain and intersects with the Tuscarora trail.  The plan was is the snow wasn't too bad I would hike to flat rock which gives me about a 12 mile round trip hike.  when I got the top you have a good look of Cumberland county.

on the way up I came across these big rocks that had rolled off the top part of the bank.  not sure how were gonna clear em off the road but man are they big.


View of Cumberland county


Tuscarora trail looking into perry county


Perry county


I started down the Tuscarora trail thinking the snow wasn't to deep till i realized that I was walking on top of a crust that was actually pretty deep snow.  I sunk in a few times till mid thigh.  this is at about 1500 feet which it does make a difference with water and keeping snow around.  I got to thinking that it probably wouldn't be to smart to hike to flat rock because if the snow crust got soft it would be down right unbearable to walk the 5 or so miles back through thigh deep snow.  so I turned back to Cumberland county and decided to walk a trail across the mountain.

View of the trail I was hiking.


I did a relatively short 5 mile hike but it was nice on Saturday.  I came down out of the mountain pretty early so I went home grabbed a shower and did a few things around the house.  then loaded up for Saturday night.  Saturday night was relatively normal routine.  drank a few beers and chilled.  we had some fresh sausage and steak on the grill.  my camera was dead so no more pics.  but It was a good time.  next time we will be heading to camp will be first day of turkey.

[Hawks Feather]

Thanks for sharing some really neat pictures and it looks like we have a new Chef at FnF.  When I see and read things like this I try to think what it would have been like in the 1800's to have lived there.  No Bronco to transport things to the top, etc.

Jerry

[bigben]

yeah we didn't starve this weekend    I gained three lbs this weekend  and being on a diet sucks.  I plan on doing a lot of hiking and primitive camping this summer.  The tuscarora trail that is snow covered goes to a shelter way off in the distance in that picture.  The plan is to park at the cabin saturday morn.  hike to the shelter setup camp and do some more explorin.  then hike back to the cabin on sunday morning.  I used to do a a lot of hiking and backpacking and got to busy for my own good.  I decided this summer I was setting a good chunk aside for me time so to speak.  I enjoy hiking and being out in the outdoors.  the nice thing about that shelter that is on that trail is there is no one around.  no body but bears and other animals at least.  no light pollution and it takes me back to when I was out at philmont. 

[KySongDog]

That's some nice pics, Ben.  That is the kind of area I like.  Woods and an old cabin, can't beat it. 

[bambam]

Pretty country and good lookin food.

[iahntr]

Someday I hope to have some sort of cabin to get away to.
But we don't have the miles and miles to hike around in.
Very nice Ben. Thanks for sharin it with us.
and the eats do look tasty too !     

[coyote101]

Very nice Ben.  Certainly is beautiful country.

Pat

[bigben]

that very first photo is one of my favorite grey fox stands.  just watch down the road and when they step out id em and let em have it.  we called and killed two greys this year at that spot.  killed on more above it by about 200yds and that is the same spot I killed my coyote a few years ago.  within 200 yds of that picture was the first spot I killed my first predator a grey fox at 10 in the morning.  these pictures have a lot of memories for me throughout the years.  its something that when you grow older the more just being in the same area makes it all the more enjoyable.  every time I walk through these areas I remember back to past hunts. 

[dog dropper]

Nice Pics BEN!

[FinsnFur]

Very cool. That landscape looks a lot like ours.

Oh by the way, a Ford would drove right over those rocks
Thanks for taking us along.

[vvarmitr]

That was cool Ben.

That summer camping sounds great. Would enjoy going w/ ya.
Nothing like inviting oneself is there. 

[pitw]

Too nice Ben.  Love the pics from your area cause I don't got no other way of seeing it.  Really nice trees you got there and the food looks a mite appetizing as well . Thanks.

[bigben]

if you want to come on out vic go ahead.  with camping the more the merrier.  but I think I hit a road block. 



If you look on down the trail you can see posted signs on the trail and a wire across it.  This is the Tuscarora trail and as far as I knew it was a state trail and is open to hikers.  I was looking around a bit tonight and found out this section both ways are closed to use.  Hmmm  I sent a email to where I got the information from to get a better understanding and find out the reason why.  I know that you only need to hike about a mile till state forest land but I have no other way to get to state forest land other then to walk this road which is a trail.  The signs have always been there and through the years the get updated but I had figured it was mostly for hunters.  this is the first time I have ever heard of it being closed to hiking.  it just really surprises me that this section is closed.  I know that two years ago it was sold to a new owner and that was when a new cable and posted signs went up. 

[vvarmitr]

Seems some daym city slicker got himself a piece of Heaven.

God builds Heaven & wishes everyone would come.

City slicker gets a piece of Heaven & wishes everyone would stay off! 

[GunDog]

Looks like a great little hideaway Ben. Thanks for sharing!

[bigben]

well only a city slicker could afford it.  it went for close to a million dollars two years ago.  he owns a good chunk.  probably one of the biggest chunks of mountain ground that isn't state ground in this area.  still haven't found out who did buy it.