TorTilla Flat AZ – coolness redefined
TorTilla Flat might be a tourist “trap” but its well worth the trip – you get to see Superstition Mountain and the Apache Trail. Try the Prickly Pear ice cream when you get there. Tell them Troy sent ya. They won’t have any idea of who I am but tell them anyway. Oh and if you see my dollar there let me know!
Mountain Biking – Freedom Park Trail
This trail was built and is maintained by the Eastern Virginia Mountainbike Association (www.evma.org). Currently its my favorite trail. If you’re in the area and into Mt. biking I highly recommend this trail.
Great Produce Stand
Growing up in Lancaster County PA has its advantages when it comes to finding great produce. There are so many great stands. One of these days I’m going to make a trip back to where I grew up and mark as many local produce stands I can find. I’ll post a Google Map with them on here…
For the time being here’s one of the best local produce stands mapped. It’s a great place to get great fruit.
Seneca Rocks – climb right out on the high rocks
I’ve been visiting Seneca Rocks since I was in high school. Its an easy hike to the top. Once you get to the top its a great view. What makes this a really neat place (besides the natural beauty) is that if you want to you can view the scene (at the top) from a deck or you can climb right out on the high rocks. I always meet climbers there either bivouacking on the side of the rocks or climbers doing something cool… there’s even a climbing school near by that teaches you how to climb.
Here’s a little bit about Seneca Rocks
The rocks are a magnificent formation rising nearly 900 feet above the North Fork River. Eastern West Virginia contains many such formations of the white/gray Tuscarora quartzite. Seneca Rocks and nearby Champe Rocks are among the most imposing examples. The quartzite is approximately 250 feet thick and is located primarily on exposed ridges as caprock or exposed crags. The rock is composed of fine grains of sand that were laid down approximately 440 million years ago, in an extensive sheet at the edge of ancient ocean. Years of geologic activity followed, as the ocean was slowly destroyed and the underlying rock uplifted and folded. Millions of years of erosion stripped away the overlaying rock and left remnants of the arching folds in formations such as Seneca Rocks.
Seneca Rocks Discovery Center, Elkins, WV 26241, (304) 567-2827
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/mnf/sp/senrcks_txt.html
Hike – search for the “lost” silver mine and maybe discover a 200 million year old dinosaur skeleton
The first thing you need to do is locate the storm tunnel that runs under the the Turnpike. After you walk through the graffiti covered tunnel, walk up out of the stream on the left side to follow the trail. There are ribbons tied around the trees that mark the trail. That being said, the last time I hiked the trail it was next to impossible to follow the trial, we ended up making our own path through massive spider webs, thick thorns and dense under growth. I have the bloody scratches to prove it.
What’s cool about this hike is the possibility of discovering a dinosaur skeleton or finding the “lost” silver mine. Here’s an piece of history I found online – “In 1956 a small reptile skeleton was discovered by Norman Waltz in the Brunswick formation, near Bowmansville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. – the fossil is of a small dinosaur (Sphodrosaurus Pennsylvanicus) which lived in this area at least 200 million years ago.” The quarry where Norman found the the fossil is very near to the hike. The silver mine part of the hike relates to a story my parents told me about a silver mine in the area and there is a road very close by called Silver Hill. In addition there’s more history at this location. I recently read some local literature that mentions this area was part of the underground railroad for escaped slaves. If you’re interested in discovering the history of the place consider – going to the left out of the tunnel instead of the right.
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Proposal and Hike through the Zion Narrows
26+ miles of hiking in two days through 2000 feet canyon walls – that’s what I “made” my girlfriend do. It can be a tough hike if you’re not ready for that sort of thing. For instance we had to hike through chest deep water… and just to reach the beginning of the trail seem to take hours.
On day one we reached the camp site just as it was getting dark. Our site was the second to last one before the canyon. On day two we walked maybe a 1/3 of a mile to reached the narrows. That’s when I surprised my girlfriend and proposed to her. We now have plans to take our kids through the narrows…
If you love to hike I recommend experiencing the narrows.
About the Zion Narrows.
Cost: $25 per vehicle – per person
The Zion Narrows The Virgin River has carved a spectacular gorge in the upper reaches of Zion Canyon :16 miles long, up to 2000 feet deep, and at times only 20-30 feet wide. The Zion Narrows; walking in the shadow of its soaring walls, sandstone grottos, natural springs, and hanging gardens can be an unforgettable wilderness experience. It is not, however, a trip to be underestimated. Hiking the Zion Narrows means hiking in the Virgin River. At least 60% of the hike is spent wading, walking, and sometimes swimming in the stream. There is no maintained trail; the route is the river. The current is swift, the water is cold, and the rocks under foot are slippery. Flash flooding and hypothermia are constant dangers. Good planning, proper equipment, and sound judgment are essential for a safe and successful trip.
Springdale UT 84767
1-435-772-3256
Hours
Open Monday: 8:00am to MT
Open Tuesday: 8:00am to 6:00pm MT
Open Wednesday: 8:00am to 6:00pm MT
Open Thursday: 8:00am to 6:00pm MT