That being the rugged 70-mile Laurel Highlands Backpacking Adventure! I’ve been looking forward to it for months. Anna and I are taking up the challenge to complete Pennsylvania’s famously gorgeous, scenic trail over 7 days. It starts in Ohiopyle, PA and ends near Johnstown, PA, though we will be doing it backwards.

Check out the route map!

Whenever the wind permits me to charge my phone and if my cellphone picks up any signals I’ll try to blog each day so you don’t miss anything interesting.

I’m pretty out of shape at the moment and I’m daunted at the thought we’ll be carrying 7 days worth of food with us in high volume backpacks, sleeping bags and mats as well as the usual camping paraphernalia. But I learnt from the Hadrian’s Wall walk a few years back, so this year I’m going for ultra-light backpacking. The shelters offer rustic basic sleeping areas, a firepit stocked with wood, a toilet of some kind (I don’t have high expectations) and a water source. The water sources at the beginning, the end and at a difficult part near the end of the trail are contaminated so we’re bringing a water purifier and crossing our fingers. I believe there are no showering facilities along the entire trail… so that will be a first for me. I’m keen to find out how I handle that. It’s also bear country and there are a few poisonous snakes in the area like rattlesnakes, though I haven’t found any evidence of any attacks in my online searches so I’m really not worried about it. Hmm… what else can I tell you?

Oh if you want to find out more about the trail here’s the official website. And here’s a great photo gallery I found to give you a taste of what’s to come. They even came across a rattlesnake! Tomorrow, if there’s time, I’ll post a bit more about the preparation process.

Later! :@D