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Keystone Ramblers |
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Relaxed Hikes |
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Hard Core Hikes |
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Pennsylvania Heritage Hikes |
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Path of Progress Hikes |
FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why are we doing this?
While hiking with a local outfitter,
several people expressed a desire to get out more. These hikes were started as a result.
What are the different
hiking series?
There are four different hiking
series to explore different themes…
Relaxed Hikes - Easy to moderate hikes of less than 10 miles with plenty of time to stop and hug a tree.
Hard Core Hikes - Moderate to strenuous hikes of more than 8 miles requiring a vigorous pace.
Path of Progress Hikes - Hikes to explore Pennsylvania’s industrial past, such as the lumber, mining, oil, iron, and glass industries.
Pennsylvania Heritage Hikes - Hikes to explore Pennsylvania sites of natural or historical significance, such as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon and the Johnstown Flood.
Who can attend these hikes?
Everyone is welcome. However, read the hike description carefully
-- know your limitations and do not attempt a hike that may be too strenuous or
too long. Likewise, don’t expect a fast paced
hike when the hike description indicates relaxed. Not all hikes may be suitable for children –
please use your best judgment.
What physical condition
should I be in?
Each hike announcement will
have an expected length and duration for the hike. You should be able to walk for that far and
that long. No drop out points are available
unless specifically identified in the hike announcement. In general, these hikes can be on sometimes
steep, rocky, root-covered trails; muddy patches and stream crossings are
common. If you are prone to falling or
to breaking bones, have a serious heart condition, don’t like bugs, sweating or
peeing in the woods, these hikes are probably not for you.
How many people usually go
on these hikes?
There are usually eight to
twenty people on any given hike.
Can I bring my pets?
The hike announcement will
identify if pets are permitted.
Remember, dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. Goats and llamas must be trained to a lead. Parrots must agree to stay firmly on your
shoulder and no profanity is permitted.
Where do we meet?
Each hike announcement will
provide directions to a carpool meeting point and to the trailhead. If you want to carpool, come to the carpool
meeting point. If you know you have to
drive separately, meet at the trailhead.
Remember, if you join a carpool, you’re with that driver until they
return to the carpool meeting point.
Make sure that you have all your stuff and that you know the driver’s
intentions and schedule before he leaves!
When do we meet?
Each hike announcement will
provide meeting times for the carpool meeting point and for the trailhead. Please plan to arrive early or at least on
time so that we can arrange the carpool, sort out packs and boots, and as most
hikers are quite social, greet others.
Please do not expect us to wait for you to arrive. If you miss us at the carpool meeting point,
you can probably catch us at the trailhead.
NOTE: The driving time to the trail
head that’s listed in the hike announcement is often the product of our
imagination – please take it with a grain of salt.
When will the hike be
finished?
The hike announcement will
provide an approximate hiking duration; however, due to the unexpected,
detours, and the general theme of stopping to smell the white pines and hug the
hemlocks, the time we finish could vary.
Also, some hikers enjoy stopping for drinks and/or dinner and/or ice
cream after the hike. If you have a time
commitment at the end of the day, that day’s hike will probably not be
appropriate for you. If you’re riding in
a carpool, make sure they’re going where you want to go after the hike.
What if I’m a car pool driver?
Before you leave the carpool meeting point, make sure that everyone in your car has the same plan for the day as you do and that you have the directions to the trailhead. Also, ask everyone in the car to make sure that they have their pack, water, boots, lunch, etc. Please arrive with at least a half a tank of gas. If you are fussy about your car, you may not want to drive since you will often have to transport wet, muddy and sometimes stinky hikers. After the hike, and before leaving the trail’s end, make sure you have all your passengers.
What should I bring?
Hikers should bring a day pack,
water, walking sticks, any medications, toilet paper, two zip lock bags for
used toilet paper, rain gear, gaiters, a light sweater or a fleece jacket
(weather depending), a hat, a watch, insect repellant, sunscreen, sunglasses,
extra socks, a plastic bag for picking up trash along the way, food and snacks,
paper and pencil.
All hikers should carry the
following emergency equipment: a whistle, space blanket (emergency shelter),
foam pad, small flashlight, first aid kit with whatever you are trained to use,
small knife, matches, compass, photo ID, insurance card, and if you have a cell
phone please bring it. During hunting
season, please bring an orange safety vest and an orange hat.
Optional gear would be a
camera, film, guidebooks, GPS unit, pedometer, swim suit, and change of
clothes.
What medications should I
bring?
Be sure to bring any
medications that you might need during the day such as allergy medicine, bee
sting kits and pain relievers (i.e., aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen,
naproxen sodium). Under no circumstances
should any drugs, including pain relievers, be given to or taken from another
person. If you are allergic to bees,
make sure that your bee sting kit is easily accessible and that the hike leader
knows where it is.
How much water will I need?
Reliable sources of potable
water are usually not available along the trail. Always, no matter what, bring at least
one liter of water per person. If it is
hot, you will need at least two liters per person and some hikers will need
more. Many people carry CamelBak or
Platypus hydration systems which allow you to drink continuously along the
way. You should also have water in your
car to drink before and after the hike.
Why do I need a whistle?
Use your whistle for
signaling. One blow means stop, two
means come to me, three means Emergency! Come Fast!
What happens when we’re on the trail?
When everyone is ready, and
promptly on time, the hike leader will start cheerfully down the trail; please
follow. The hike leader knows where to
go and sets the pace. Please try to keep
up but do not pass or “push” the hike leader.
If you don’t like the hike leader’s pace or style, then avoid going on
future hikes with that leader. In the
mean time, speed up or slow down, be patient and try to tough it out.
For groups of eight or more,
the hike leader will assign a sweep to walk behind the group. For groups of fifteen or more, there will be
two sweeps. The sweeps will count us
when we start and during the day to make sure that no one is missing. If you need to leave the trail at any time,
please leave your pack on the trail so that the sweeps won’t pass it. The sweeps will be changed at lunch
time. Please stay in front of the
sweeps. You will be asked to be sweep from time to time, co-operation is
requested.
The hike leader will post
people as required along the trail if there is a chance that those following
could take a wrong turn, if asked, please stay at your post until the sweeps
see you.
Should I stay behind the
lead hiker?
Yes!
Should I stay in front of the
sweeps?
Yes!
How do I know that the lead
hiker knows where he’s going?
You don’t; but at least we’ll
all get lost together.
How often do we stop?
The frequency and timing of
stops is up to the hike leader. Generally,
we’ll stop after the first twenty minutes to adjust gear and get rid of coffee,
the then we’ll take a quick pit stop every hour. We’ll stop for lunch at about half way (this
may or may not be at noon) and we’ll stop for snacks once in the morning and
once in the afternoon.
How do pit stops work?
Normally the leader will stop
and send the women ahead, after they have done doing whatever they do, they
will blow a whistle (twice) and the men will come forward. If you need to leave the trail at any other
time please leave your pack on the trail so that the sweeps wont pass it.
How do I pee in the woods?
Ask your mom for details, but
generally don’t pee within 200 feet of a stream, or where you can see standing
or running water. Leave no trace at the
pit stops, no toilet paper, Kleenex, etc.
What do you mean don’t leave
any toilet paper?!
Double bag used toilet paper in
zip lock bags. Keep it away from your
lunch.
Is smoking permitted?
Please don’t smoke during the
hike.
What’s for lunch?
We will try to get half the
hike done before we have lunch and there will be breaks in the morning and
afternoon for a snack. Popular lunch
items are sandwiches, bread, cheese, sausage, and fruit. Bring candy, energy bars (such as Power
Bars), bagels, cookies, GORP, or chocolate as snacks and to munch on along the
way. Chocolate chip cookies often come
in handy as bribes for the hike leader.
Do I really need hiking boots?
The hike announcement will
specify if you’ll need hiking boots and give a reason why. This is not a joke – if boots are
recommended, then you should wear boots.
You will need good boots, well broken in and treated for water
repellency. Boots do not have to be
heavy, expensive or difficult to care for.
Modern, high tech boots called
“approach shoes” or “trail
running shoes” are lightweight, waterproof and perfectly fine for day hiking or
light backpacking. Ask your local
outfitter for help in selecting hiking boots or shoes.
If you need information about
buying boots, visit www.Montrail.com
under “Tech Info” which provides discussions about the foot, lacing techniques,
boot construction, and getting a good fit.
What’s the big deal about
socks?
Good socks are at least as
important as good boots. Unless you like
blisters, leave your cotton socks at home!
Buy yourself good hiking socks.
Recommend socks are Dahlgren “Alpaca Hiking” or “Light Hiking”, SmartWool
“Hiking” or “Light Hiking,” Wigwam “Tech 2 Hiker Socks” or “Ultimax
CoolMax Cool-Lite Hiker,” or Thorlos “CoolMax Light Hiking.” Remember to always bring an extra pair of
socks.
What do walking sticks do
for you?
Walking sticks/trekking poles
are like 4-wheel drive for hikers. “Sticks”
will help you cross streams, jump over mud puddles, brush away branches, and
leap over rocks and logs. They will also
help keep you under control during steep descents, will allow you to keep a
more normal stride over uneven terrain and will allow a faster pace with less
effort. Sticks reduce the risk of injury
and tendonitis in knees, claves, thighs and hips by absorbing some of the shock
that goes through your body with each step.
Sticks allow your upper body to do some of the work and reduce the load
on your legs. Always buy two
sticks. You will be amazed at the
difference they make.
There are many manufacturers of
walking sticks/trekking poles but most people usually end up with Leki (www.leki.com) or Komperdell (www.komperdell.com). When shopping for sticks, look for adjustable
length, comfortable handles, replaceable carbide tips, and light weight. The best handles are either cork or hard
rubber. If you plan to hike in rugged
country, “anti-shock” sticks are nice to have for steep descents.
(Source:
Backpacker Magazine, Pole Science, December 2001, www.backpacker.com.)
Where do I buy, boots,
socks, walking sticks, packs, whistles, and other hiking gear?
Hiking gear is available
locally at Exkursions in Monroeville, Recreational Equipment
Incorporated (REI) in the South
Side Works, L. L. Bean at Ross Park
Mall, and to a lesser extent, Dick’s in various locations. See the end of the FAQ for more info about
local outfitters. Hiking gear is also
available by mail order at Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI) at www.REI.com, EMS at www.EMS.com, CampMor at www.CampMor.com, L. L. Bean at www.llbean.com, Sierra Trading Post at
www.SierraTradingPost.com, Backcountry.com at www.Backcountry.com, Travel Country
at www.TravelCountry.com, Moontrail
at www.Moontrail.com, and ZB Sports at www.zbsports.com. There are also a variety of discount and auction
sites online. Your hike leader and
hiking companions are often good sources of information about hiking gear.
What are the map references
for?
Maps are useful for getting to
the trail head and for finding your way home after the hike. Everyone should have a Pennsylvania road map
and a Delorme Pennsylvania Atlas and Gazetteer.
Pennsylvania road maps are available from AAA, grocery stores, gas
stations, bookstores, drug stores, etc.
The Pennsylvania Atlas and Gazetteer ($19.95) can be purchased at many
locations including bookstores, outfitters, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and some gas
stations.
USGS 7½’ maps show detailed
topography and can be purchased at many outfitters and sporting goods stores,
downtown at J. R. Weldin Co., 413 Wood Street, 412-281-0123 and Pen-Oh-Wes Map
Co., 336 4th Avenue, 412-261-0645, and are available online directly
from the USGS at www.usgs.gov/ and http://topomaps.usgs.gov/.
Pennsylvania State Park maps
can be obtained by contacting the state park office. Phone numbers for specific state park offices
can be found in the blue section of the Verison White Pages, at www.dcnr.state.pa.us or by calling 1-888-PA-PARKS. Likewise, state forest public use maps can be
obtained by calling the applicable state forest district headquarters. Phone numbers for specific state forest district
headquarters can be found in the blue section of the Verison White Pages or by
visiting www.dcnr.state.pa.us. The district headquarters for the Forbes
State Forest is located in Laughlintown, PA and can be contacted at
724-238-9533.
State Game Lands are administered
by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. A
great variety of maps and other information is available from the PA Game
Commission. The PA Game Commission South
West Region office is located in Ligonier, PA and can be contacted at
724-238-9523.
Where is the nearest
hospital?
The nearest hospital will be
listed in the hike announcement.
Are ticks a problem?
Ticks can
transmit diseases to unwary hikers such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and
Lyme disease. The ticks are common from
May to September and peak in June and July.
The best defense is a good offence – stay to the center of the trail,
wear long pants with cuffs tucked into your socks, gaiters, hat, long sleeve
shirt and apply an inspect repellant to you skin and/or clothing (always read
product label for instructions). At the
end of the hike, a full body tick inspection by a qualified tick inspector is
recommended.
What’s
Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease
can be very serious, sometimes resulting in severe, chronic and disabling
illness. About ¾ of cases of Lyme
disease are diagnosed by the symptoms that show up after the tick bite, often
beginning with a bull’s eye rash – an area with a red center and an outer
ring. Accompanying or following the rash
may be fever, stiff neck, headache, body aches and fatigue. For additional information about Lyme
disease, refer to: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov, click on Health Topics A to Z, then
click on Lyme disease; American Lyme Disease Foundation, www.aldf.com; Lyme Disease Association, www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org;
Lyme Disease Foundation, www.Lyme.org.
(Source:
Virginia Linn, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Tuesday, August 7, 2001, www.post-gazette.com.)
Why does poison ivy make you
itch?
Poison Ivy (Toxicondendron
radicans) contains an oil called Urushiol that causes the skin rash and
associated itching. Urushiol is present
in all parts of the poison ivy plant.
Spreading the oil causes the rash to spread. The oil can be spread from contaminated
clothing, pets, footwear, tools and equipment.
Once the oil is removed from your skin, the rash cannot be spread by
touching the rash. The oil can be
removed by washing with detergent and water.
Just because you’ve never
gotten poison ivy before, it doesn’t mean that you are immune. Repeated exposure is likely to cause a
reaction eventually. The best way to
avoid an outbreak of poison ivy is to avoid the plant. “Leaves of Three, Let it Be” is useful to
remember, but many plants have clusters of three leaves. Instead, learn to recognize the plant, and
avoid it by wearing protective clothing, staying in the center of the trail and
carefully stepping around the plants.
Poison Ivy is
everywhere around Pittsburgh. Ask your
hike leader to point it out and try to remember what it looks like. Poison ivy can be a small plant with distinct
ivy shaped leaves, a free standing, woody stemmed shrub, or a large,
tree-climbing vine with large mitten shaped leaves. Poison ivy often has white
berries. “The Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac
Book” by Thomas E. Anderson, Acton Circle Publishing, ISBN: 0963937189, $14.95, provides useful information on
these nasty plants. For more
information, go to http://poisonivy.aesir.com. Also, check out the website http://www.poison-ivy.org/ for additional
information.
(Source:
Celeste Vrabel, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Saturday, August 25, 2001, www.post-gazette.com.)
What other nasty plants
might I run across in Pennsylvania?
Poison sumac
(Toxicondendron vernix) can be found around here but is difficult to
distinguish from its benign and ubiquitous cousin, the Pittsburgh Palm, also
know as “common sumac.” But the absolute
worst plant ever, making Poison Ivy and Poison Sumac seem like a Rum Raison
from Dave & Andy’s, is the vicious, evil, dangerous GIANT HOGWEED
(Heracleum mantegazzianum). The GIANT
HOGWEED is native to Eurasia and is a member of the carrot or parsley
family. It is a tall, majestic plant
that becomes established in rich, moist soils along roadsides, stream banks and
waste ground. It is know to occur in
Maine, New York and Pennsylvania. In
Pennsylvania, the GIANT HOGWEED has been spotted in Erie, Crawford, Warren and
McKean Counties. GIANT HOGWEED is 8 –14
feet high, with stems 2 – 4 inches in diameter, hollow, ridged, with purple
blotches and coarse hairs, leaves are sharply and unevenly lobed, approaching 5
feet long, flowering occurs from mid-June to mid-July, flower clusters may
reach 2½ feet across, in winter, dead stems may remain upright, providing an
easy means of recognition. DO NOT TOUCH
THIS PLANT! If you see one, call the
GIANT HOGWEED HOTLINE: 1-877-464-9333
(HOGWEED).
(Source: PA Dept.
of Agriculture, Giant Hogweed Flyer, 717-772-5209)
How do I remove my name from
the e-mail list?
Simply e-mail Keystone Ramblers
and ask that you be removed from the list.
What are the group’s future
plans?
We hope to eventually have a
number of hike leaders so that there is a choice of hikes and hike styles at
any given time. Also, we hope to include
short backpacking trips, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and road trips for
long weekends of hiking at special locations, such as Potter County, PA.
Will the hikes always be in
Pennsylvania?
We hope to eventually have
hikes in West Virginia, Ohio, and New York states.
- JMA R8/29/09