Indian Wells Vista (Central Pennsylvania, 6/4/2022)
Jun 6, 2022 7:29:18 GMT -5
Post by GaliWalker on Jun 6, 2022 7:29:18 GMT -5
On Saturday I did a 10mi hike in central Pennsylvania's Rothrock State Forest. I began the hike from Bear Meadows at 4:50am. It was still dark as I hiked past Bear Meadows using a headlamp. 1.3mi in, I picked up the Sand Spring Path to leave Bear Meadows for higher ground. Sand Spring Path deposited me onto the Mid State Trail, which took me up to the spine of Greenlee Mountain, where it leveled out. I hurriedly made my way to the Indian Wells Vista (3.5mi from the car) for some fine early morning views. Bear Meadows was bathed in liquid sunshine below me.
Indian Wells Vista
Bear Meadows
While taking one of my 'selfies' on a large talus field, as I carefully walked down to the spot where I was to stand some rocks gave way under my foot. (I don't exactly know how this happened, because in terrain such as this I test stability of potentially unstable rocks by force of habit now, before committing myself to it. I must not have done a good job this time.) I went down to one knee and managed to get one hand down, but then more rocks gave way under my other foot, and I was flipped through 360° to come down hard on my right shoulder and forearm. During the flip, which happened in a fraction of a second, I still had time to think, "Oh oh, this is going to be bad." But it wasn't. Somehow, I did not keep tumbling anymore, even though that slope was steep! One shirt sleeve was in tatters below the elbow, and I had a few scrapes on my right shoulder, arm, hand and leg, but that was the extent of the damage (other than a bruised ego). My first potentially serious fall in over 20yrs.
I continued on the Mid State Trail for a couple of miles before dropping back down to Bear Meadows (via the Kettle Trail) and the car.
Indian Wells Vista
Bear Meadows
While taking one of my 'selfies' on a large talus field, as I carefully walked down to the spot where I was to stand some rocks gave way under my foot. (I don't exactly know how this happened, because in terrain such as this I test stability of potentially unstable rocks by force of habit now, before committing myself to it. I must not have done a good job this time.) I went down to one knee and managed to get one hand down, but then more rocks gave way under my other foot, and I was flipped through 360° to come down hard on my right shoulder and forearm. During the flip, which happened in a fraction of a second, I still had time to think, "Oh oh, this is going to be bad." But it wasn't. Somehow, I did not keep tumbling anymore, even though that slope was steep! One shirt sleeve was in tatters below the elbow, and I had a few scrapes on my right shoulder, arm, hand and leg, but that was the extent of the damage (other than a bruised ego). My first potentially serious fall in over 20yrs.
I continued on the Mid State Trail for a couple of miles before dropping back down to Bear Meadows (via the Kettle Trail) and the car.
