Toms Run in the Fall

I haven't been able to hike since last July due to some nasty surgery. Today was the first day that I have been able to do any hiking since then. I chose to circle hike from Camp Michaux to Toms Run Shelters on the Sunset Rocks Trail and back via the AT.

I had a lovely walk as usual. The fall leaves are slightly past their prime. However when the leaves fall into Toms Run they are always beautiful.  I keep trying to take the perfect picture of Toms Run.  This one makes me feel very good.

My lovely wife and best friend Carolyn was with me.  It was good to be on the trail again.   Camp Michaux has become a tourist attraction since it has been restored a bit by the Cumberland County Historical Society.  There were many more folks in the area than typical.

Camp Michaux Walking Tour

Over the summer the Cumberland County Historical Society cleaned up and restored visible artifacts on the Camp Michaux property.  They created a walking tour of the facility, as well.  A pdf brochure is available from their web site.

The site is just off the Appalachian Trail.  Drive there by going east from Pine Grove Furnace State Park on Route 233.  Take a right onto Michaux Road.  Parking is available on Michaux Road and on Bunkerhill Road.  

While you are there you can circle hike on the AT toward Toms Run Shelters.  Take a left on blue-blazed Sunset Rock Trail to make your way back,

CAMP MICHAUX  SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOUR
Bunker Hill Farm
Pine Grove Furnace CCC Camp
Pine Grove Furnace POW Interrogation Camp
Church Camp Michaux
David L. Smith, Director
Camp Michaux Recognition and Development Project
Cumberland County Historical Society
2011

http://www.historicalsociety.com/uploads/michauxwalkingtour.pdf

Toms Run is Changing Colors

I haven't had much chance to hike this summer.  We spent a month in Australia, which took up most of my free time.  I am glad that things have slowed down enough at the Library that I can at least get out on the weekends.  Tom's Run is changing colors.  This photo was taken, heading south, just before you cross Tom's Run toward the shelter.  This is usually a good place to add the blue of the sky.

Flowers along Toms Run

I finally did something I have wanted to do for a long time. I followed Tom's Run from where it crosses the AT (near the shelter) east to Camp Michaux. The snow melt caused the creek to flow deeply enough that it had overflowed the banks and scoured the debris away from the banks. Most of the plants that would make a bushwhack difficult later in the summer were just showing their green noses out of the leaves. The first half of the way was fairly easy. The closer to the remains of Camp Michaux I got the more pine trees and brambles I needed to push through. Of course I took pictures of the Run the whole way.

I have been unusually busy recently. I have been out hiking several times but not enough. To make it worse this is the first time I have downloaded any pictures from my camera in two weeks. I will put a few more on my web album..

18 degrees and a brilliant blue sky

I took a hike this morning past Tom's Run Shelter.  I bushwhacked from the Appalachian Trail where Tom's Run crosses the Trail near the Shelter.  Because of the rain last week and the snow melt the Run was higher than it usually is at this time of year.  The sky was a brilliant blue and it was cold - 18 degrees.  Most of the pictures I took this morning were of puddles with ice forming on them.  I particularly like these two photos because of the pools and the waterfalls and the ice.
I actually met a bunch of cold-looking hikers who had slept on the Trail last night.  They looked pretty happy though.  You can't beat walking in Michaux.

More photos