Backpacking the Allegheny Front Trail in Pennsylvania (42 miles)

A group of us from DC UL Backpacking decided we needed a change of pace from Virginia backpacking, so we headed north to Pennsylvania so we could hike the Allegheny Front Trail up near State College, Pennsylvania over the recent three-day weekend. The Allegheny Front Trail (AFT) is a relatively recently completed trail (1998) and which forms a nearly 42-mile loop …

Backpacking North Fork Mountain (24 miles) and Climbing at Seneca

I finally got out to North Fork Mountain with a small crew from DC UL Backpacking… This one has been on my to-do list for awhile now, since I have seen some cool photos from friends that have done it in the past and just because I always notice it while climbing at Seneca (it is the long ridgeline to …

Climbing at Indian Grave Ridge

About a dozen of us from the Potomac Mountain Club headed out for a day trip to climb at the relatively off-the-beaten path crag known as Indian Grave Ridge. The crag is located about halfway between Luray and Front Royal, Virginia in the Massanuttens and is considerably remote for a day trip—long drive up a dirt road and a 45 …

Torment-Forbidden Traverse

Torment-Forbidden Traverse

This past weekend I met up with Kel Rossiter of Adventure Spirit Guides for a two-day run at the classic Torment-Forbidden Traverse (Grade IV, 5.6) in Washington’s Boston Basin. The traverse was an absolutely outstanding route in one of the most spectacular and wild settings I’ve ever seen. The traverse is not particularly difficult climbing but it is long, committing, and features …

Climbing Mount Shuksan Fisher Chimneys: One of the 50 Classic Climbs

I headed up to Mount Shuksan (9,127′) with Doug, a fellow Potomac Mountain Club member, to climb the Mount Shuksan Fisher Chimneys route. Both of us are originally from the Pacific Northwest but now live inside the DC Beltway… I must say it was so great to be back in the Cascades! I’ve had thoughts of Mount Shuksan and hoped …