Stories from a HUSBAND - FATHER - SON - GRANDFATHER - UNCLE - BROTHER - FRIEND - TEACHER
SHARING THE TRAILS
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A few months ago I was mountain biking at the Lakes with Mark, Glenn, and Mikey. I was riding in front of the group and then, a quarter of a mile into the ride, I suddenly stopped. When Glenn asked me what was wrong I told him that I was skittish. I wasn't riding...I was looking for snakes. Only three weeks into my summer and I had already seen four snakes along the trail (Mark and I would encounter the fifth...and largest snake of the summer...a couple weeks later in Tuscarora State Forest). It's surprising to some people that, as much time as I spend in the woods, I'm seriously afraid of snakes. When I see one I tend to do that "Scooby jumping into Shaggy's arms" thing. For the rest of that particular ride I let Mark (the man who fears no animal) take the lead.
My good friend, Mark Lentz, admiring a rattlesnake. WHAT A DAY WE HAD in Tuscarora State Forest! -- July 6, 2017
Rattlesnake in Tuscarora State Forest. -- July 6, 2017
I could call summer of 2017 my "summer of snakes." Altogether I saw two copperheads (in Ohiopyle State Park), two black snakes (one in Michaux State Forest and one at Rocky Ridge County Park), and one Rattlesnake (in Tuscarora State Forest). Snakes, however, weren't the only wildlife that I shared the trails with this summer. I'm not sure why...but this summer I came across more wildlife than I ever remember in such a short timespan! Yes, I crossed paths with snakes...but I also shared the trails with squirrels, turkey vultures, turtles, deer, hornets, and a black bear (and that's still not the entire list!)
On our first ride of the summer, Mark took me to Stony Valley. We saw this snapping turtle near the trailhead. -- June 5, 2017
Sharing the trail at Swatara State Park with this turtle. He matched my bike. -- June 6, 2017
Sharing the trails with a chipmunk at Rocky Ridge. -- June 8, 2017
Not sharing the trail...but sharing my campsite in Ohiopyle State Park with a racoon. -- June 14, 2017
Grudgingly, I shared a shower with these guys while camping in Ohiopyle. -- June 15, 2017
I'm 99% sure that this is an Osprey that I saw while hiking at Rocky Ridge County Park with Robin, Alex, Jackie, Sophie, and Isaac. -- July 2, 2017
Hiking along Sheffield Light Island in Connecticutt, Robin and I shared the beach with multiple horseshoe crabs. -- July 17, 2017
Matt, Glenn and I shared the road with these Turkey Vultures having lunch along Route 233 in Michaux State Forest. -- July 25, 2017
Definitely not the only deer I crossed paths with this summer...but the only one I managed to get a picture of. This particular doe was running the fence line near the trails where Glenn, Mark, and I were mountain biking on the Green Belt in Harrisburg, PA. -- July 26, 2017
It's been a while since I've seen a black bear while mountain biking...Mark and I shared the trail with this black bear while mountain biking in Michaux State Forest. We were approximately one hundred feet away when I took this picture. -- July 31, 2017
Just a few days after Glenn, Matt, and Tim were bombarded with hornets while we were mountain biking in Michaux (I was in the front of the pack and must have stirred them up), I saw this hornets nest hanging from a tree while I was hiking the trails around the Bedford Springs. -- August 6, 2017
Alex launched his drone (on the left) after we hiked to the top of Tumbling Run. He captured super cool footage of a hawk flying over Michaux State Forest. Check out the video below. -- August 17, 2017
On a road ride with my son, Alex, we ended up sharing the road with this snapping turtle trying to cross the pavement. -- August 20, 2017
This past week, I was riding at the Lakes when I began thinking about about all the animals I had shared the trail with over the summer. Glancing ahead, there was a groundhog standing in the middle of the trail...just staring at me. Last thing I wanted was to play chicken with this furry guy and his razor sharp claws. He darted towards me and then passed under my left pedal. With my heart still racing (and no more than fifty feet further down the trail) I looked up and found myself staring at a six point buck no more than one hundred feet away! Incredible! I interpreted this little episode as a gentle reminder that I'm the visitor in their home...not the other way around. I'm glad that they don't mind sharing the trails.
Unfortunately, I was forced to start my summer by sharing the road with a buck while driving in southern Bedford County on the way to my summer kick-off camping trip at Rocky Gap State Park. My truck was completely repaired. Can't say it ended quite as well for the buck. -- May 26, 2017
Life is a journey...not a destination.
David A. Raymond -- September 3, 2017
Why do they even make signs like this?! I know there are snakes in the woods! Nothing like raising my blood pressure before the hike. Lakeside Loop is in Rocky Gap State Park, Maryland. -- May 28, 2017
Here's the GARMIN maps and data from the rides featured in this post...
Interested in mountain biking or hiking some of the trails featured in this post? Check out the TRAIL MAPS and TRAIL HEADS tabs on the ALL TRAILS LEAD TO ICE CREAM website.
A day off of the bicycle doesn't mean a day spent inside. With the end of summer in view, and the school year encroaching soon, I took my sixteen year old son, Alex, and his buddies (Robby and Austin) to Michaux State Forest for a day of hiking, picnicking, and exploring. Our day today was split into three parts. We planned to hike up through Tumbling Run Game Preserve, have a picnic lunch at the furnace stack in Pine Grove Furnace State Park , and then hike up to the top of Pole Steeple. Although the trail head at Tumbling Run is not marked, it is easy to get to if you know what you are looking for. After passing Pine Grove Furnace State Park on state route 233 (headed South) you will be looking for a obvious gravel parking area located on the right between Woodrow Road and Dead Woman's Hollow Road. It is important to know that the last "nice" bathrooms are located at the furnace stack at Pine Grove Furnace ...
My wife took me to Alaska this year. I had never been to that part of the world, nor have I ever seen such immense natural beauty in my entire life. For our 10th wedding anniversary we took a six day cruise from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to Alaska and back. Along the way, we visited the Alaskan cities of Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. We took a train ride into Yukon Territory, Canada. We saw whales, bald eagles, and countless salmon. Robin and I had the opportunity to hike along Bennett Lake, explore Glacier Bay National Park, and sail through Tracy’s Arm Inlet. It truly was one of the “bucket-list” trips that I could only dream of and it was fitting that I got to visit the 49th state during my 49th year on the planet. Thank you, Sweetheart! Robin and David Raymond. Welcome to Alaska! -- July 18, 2023 David and Robin Raymond in Tracy's Arm Inlet -- July 17, 2023 Approaching a glacier in Tracy's Arm Inlet -- July 17, 2023 ...
In the early 1980s my mom and dad began taking my brother, Jake, and I camping at Rocky Gap State Park near Cumberland, Maryland . During the summer months we seemingly went every weekend. I loved it there. Rocky Gap was just a short drive from our home in Bedford, Pennsylvania. We spent our days playing on the beach and fishing in the lake. My mother made incredible meals for us at the campground and each evening my dad would make a campfire. The campfire was my favorite part. My dad made mountain pies, my mom would make popcorn over the fire, and my brother and I would roast marshmallows and hot dogs. Our camping trips ended in the late 80s when both my brother and I reached high school. Our schedules were just too hectic. That was the last I would see of Rocky Gap for 25 years. Rocky Gap State Park and campgrounds sits at the base of Evitts Mountain in western Maryland -- May 30, 2016 When I began dating m...
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