Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Rocksylvania

So, Pennsylvania has a reputation for some very rocky terrain and it is well deserved. It wasn't quite as I expected: not so much dramatic, dangerous climbs as just a constant, tedious assortment of talus and scree, buried rocks and things in general to bang up your feet and shred shoes. The lack of elevation change is a mitigating factor. Much of the AT is ridge walk, but the relatively level walking still can get bogged down by picking through the rocks.

I found three basic type of rock configurations that I started to look at like puzzles to be solved. The first I call the "mine field", the second the "hully gully", and the third bouldering. They are not always separate, can appear as hybrids or often run into each other but the common theme is: rocks.

The "mine field" is the most plentiful obstacle; sometimes the fields could go on for miles. The "land mines" are the seemingly infinite array of flat, triangular, or pointed stones that are mostly buried except for a sharp protrusion anywhere from an inch to a foot out of the ground. While not life-threatening at all, they are a constant nuisance. I don't know how many time each day a stubbed a toe or tripped on one of these "land mines." It's even worse when the late summer brush partially obscures these little stinkers.


The "hully gully" is what I call the trail sections that look like a dried stream bed or gully full of loose rocks resulting from erosion. Most often the rocks are golfball to hockey puck sized, occasionally as big as a football. Although not as common as the mine field, the hully gully was the most difficult for me to negotiate because there's no solid footing. Everything is kinda wobbling and sliding around. Busted my ass a couple times doin' the hully gully.


The third rock configuration consists of much larger stones from suitcase to SUV sized that were probably the least frequent. While you can pick your way through these mazes of stone, I found it easiest. most efficient, and the most fun to get up high and hop stone to stone using bouldering technique. Once you get a groove going, you can make pretty good time through the boulders (unless climbing is involved) but beware: one slip up will probably mean a ride out of the woods on an EMT helicopter ride.


So, with only 16 miles left until the New Jersey border I think there's a pretty good chance I'll make it through PA but sadly one of my shoes won't-- shredded after a couple hundred miles of Rocksylvania. Ouch.


3 comments:

Patty said...

Yikes! Wait until you reach the "Granite State". Hopefully no more Hully Gully...maybe just the "Flying GammaHooch" :D oxo

Kat said...

Oh so familiar. Big boulders are doable and fun when rock hopping. Was just on a hike with the other not so fun rocks and scree but worth the trudge when we got to the destination. Are you using trail shoes or boots? Your awesome dude! Fall equinox is upon us now, yay and hopefully the beautiful eastern fall colors are making a colorful path for you. One of my fav quotes from Muir-"In every walk with nature...one receives more than he seeks" oh so true

Janel said...

I like your descriptions. I think I've experienced all those, nothing like a few falls to remind you of the laws of physics. Stay strong and "rock on!"