Brian Shultz and I completed a 60 mile backpacking trip on the Loyalsock Trail on April 14 - 17, 2005.  The weather was exceptionally fine with sunny, blue skies, comfortable temperatures, very low humidity, and no bugs!  Our training for this rigorous hike paid off as we completed the journey a day earlier than expected.  A special thanks to Brian Geesey for shuttling us to the start of the trail.  We started the hike at 5:30 PM on Thursday and hiked to the top of Smith's knob (6.5 miles) arriving in total darkness at 9:00 PM.  The unusually dry conditions prevented us from making a campfire, but the stars were amazing.  

Day 2 took us 18 miles to Kettle Creek vista where we made camp and cleaned ourselves in a nearby spring, cooked dinner on our home made alcohol "cat" stove, and sipped Gentleman Jack.  On day three we awoke to a chilly 25 degrees and frost on the outside of our sleeping bags.  We hiked all day and into the night covering 20 miles and descending from Canyon Vista in the dark.  Thank heavens for headlamps and hiking poles.  

We hiked from 8:00 - 4:00 on Sunday, making 15 miles.  Without a doubt, the weather was the most spectacular we have ever experienced while on an overnight hike.  The completion of the LT brings our total miles of trails covered to over 225.  Our next expedition scheduled for this Fall (2005) will be the Allegheny Front Trail (AFT), a 40 mile loop near Black Moshannon State Park.