Seneca Camp

I had done camp at Seneca State Forest on 24th and 25th May. It is located in West Virginia state.
Camp Location Details
Name: Seneca State Forest Camp
Distance: 200 miles from Washington D.C.(approx)
Camp Equipment
Tent(4 person), Tent(2 person-backup), hammer(to pitch the tent), 1 Commander torch, 3 small torches, medical kit, Light fuel(to burn fire wood) and matchbox, cooking utensils(vessel,
spoons, plates, glasses), sleeping bags and comforters(to have soft base in the tent and to cover yourself in the cold) and water.
Camp Experience:
I along with 4 friends(organizers) started from Washington D.C around 8:30 am ion 24th May(Saturday). Reached our first destination CASS Rail Road(17 miles from our camp location) around 12:00 noon. CASS rail road is one of the ancient rail route used for logging wood and also they have tourist trains for sight seeing. Had our lunch(delicious tamarind rice- prepared by one of our organizer) in the open ground near the railway station. The railway track is meter gauge. Boarded one of the train which is of two hours journey(2 pm to 4 pm). The train is run by Steam Engine. It has 5 compartments with open interior to have direct view of the entire scenery across the hill. It was little sunny with cool breeze. The train traversed through the hill and could see the valley. Total height we reached is around 3200 ft(approx). Started from CASS Rail Road to camp site around 4:30 pm. Reached the camp site around 5:10 pm. The road was narrow with so many curves and it is a single lane road. After reaching the campsite we picked up one camp spot registered for it. Firewood will be provided at campsite. Each campsite has arrangements for Barbecue, tent pitching and trash disposal. Pitched the 4-person tent that we brought in the space provided at camp site. Then we realized that we forgot the food that we brought for cooking that night. Few of us went to near by Retail store(6 miles approx from camp site).
                                 Bought pasta, tomato soup and sweets from retail store. Fire was setup in the barbecue and started preparing soup. Boiled water in vessel and simultaneously roasted corn for a bite. Due to climate conditions and low flame of firewood it took some time for water to boil and then added soup liquid,pepper and salt to it and stirred well and boiled until soup is ready. Soup was very delicious. Then prepared pasta in the same vessel. In the meantime we were also enjoying the loud music with the help of car speakers. Pasta was ready It was so tasty. Around 10:30 pm completed our dinner. Then set out for night walk in the forest with torches in hand. Night view of the sky was so amazing, could see clear sky with countless stars. Collected some more fire wood from the log pile available there for setting up campfire. Returned to our tent. Set the firewood for campfire and then entered the tent. Played cards until 3 am in the morning. It was bit conjusted for 5 people in the tent but managed to get some sleep. Night passed away. Got up around 7:30 am on Sunday morning. Few of the organizers bought bread from nearby store for breakfast along with biscuits. Packed our tent, cleaned the place and got ready by 11:00 am. Went to Seneca Lake from where the Thorny Creek Trail begins.
                                 The trail is of 5 miles(approx). Started the trail around 11:30 pm. There was a wooden bridge at the entrance of the trail leading to the forest. The trail was not maintained properly. Blue marks were three across the trail to track it. It was narrow trail initially with exposure to the valley of the forest on one side. Felt like the trail was not used for past 6 months. Couple of places trees fell and blocking the trail and were not cleared. It was little steep trail. We saw one small wild boar along the way. the trail traversed through the hill. After an hour walk the steep of the trail increased and trail got broader covered with huge trees on both the sides. The trees provided good shade during the sunny afternoon. we lost the blue mark track around 1:15 pm. After thorough searching in the middle of the jungle were able to find the trail and continued out hike. Finally we completed the hike by around 2:00 pm. It was good hike. Then went to nearby store around 6 miles from Seneca Lake for lunch. Had pizza and desert. Then went back ot the lake for rowing. We took a boat arranged by the Forest office and rowed for 30 mins along the lake. It was so much fun rowing the boat. Then left for home around 5:30 pm. Reached home in D.C. around 8:30 pm. Overall had a wonderful experience with the nature. All is well.

                                

Read More

North River Gorge Hike

I had done hike to North River Gorge  on 26th April . It is located in Virginia State
Hike Location
Name: North river Gorge
Distance: 120 miles from Richmond(approx)
Total hiking distance: 12.5 miles.
Hiking Experience:Started around 7:10 am in the morning to organizer's place. Around 7:28 am started towards the destination. It was sunny day and windy. Reached Starbucks around 8:45 am for coffee break and also had breakfast(home-made) brought by fellow trek mates. Started from Starbucks at 9:10 am towards the destination. Reached the start point of the hike by 10:00 am. The parking lot is on the left side of the road and at corner of parking lot, the trail started and there was sign board for the same. The trail initially had purple markings. After walking for 0.2 miles the trail intersects with yellow trail and we followed the yellow trail. The trail was going down and has steep slope. Reached a stream along the trail. The trail was covered by trees on both sides, but not shady enough to protect from scorching heat. However windy weather compensated the heat to an extent. Trail was maintained well. The stream is flowing fast and freezing cold. The rocks beneath the stream were slippery and sharp. It was great pain experience even though it lasted for seconds. The coldness of the water made us more active and we continued on the trail. Then we followed the white marked trail for around 7 miles.
                                                The trail had ascent for half the path. The ascent was steep and climate was getting hotter with Sun heat and no wind as we hiked further. After a strenuous hike for 8.5 miles, The white trail ended. we halted there for lunch around 1:00 pm. Had delicious home-made Aloo parathas, sandwich. Taken enough rest and started again at 1:32 pm. The rest of the trail  had purple markings. It was a pretty straight walk with wide trail along the midst of the jungle. The trail passes along the side of the river. It was a great scenic to see the river stream passing by while walking along he trail covered by trees. The trail has some thrilling surprises. Crossed the stream 9 times before reaching the end of the trail. Every time the stream had taken us by surprise. One time the speed of the water flow was high, one time the depth of the stream was high, one time the width of the stream was high. The water remained freezing cold from morning to evening. Finally crossed all the streams and to our surprise there was a seep ascent at the end of the trail. Reached the  parking lot by 3:54 pm. The trail was a loop, half covered by white mars and rest by purple marks. Started to home around 4:05 pm and reached organizer's place around 6:05 pm and reached home around 6:20 pm. All is Well.

                             

Read More