For our second annual summer sibling trip, Sasquatch wished to backpack. We defined this as carrying all the gear we could possibly need to survive a day-long trek and at least one night of rustic camping. I had visited Raccoon Creek State Park on a previous camping trip which had not gone well for me, but I was acquainted with the area and willing to give it another go.
Raccoon Creek State Park is located in Beaver County, PA, approximately a 2-hour drive southeast from Cleveland. They offer educational programs, multiple camping and fishing areas, boating areas, swimming and sunbathing areas, and more. For this particular trip, we were interested in none of that!
S'quatch and I found an empty trailhead parking lot and set off along the more rigorous hiking trails. According to the map, our route would take us 9.5 miles through the park to a backpack camping area milepost. We both considered ourselves in fairly peak condition at that point, well-prepared for a strenuous outdoor adventure, and expected the excursion to provide a moderate challenge.
It rained sporadically and the temperature wasn't quite sure what to do at any given moment. The humidity definitely made things seem more dire. And our path included the most difficult hiking trail within the park. But both of us were eager to prove we could manage such a challenge, so we had a blast.
Bug spray and sunblock were used and reapplied. At one point we were sweat- and rain-damp on the outside, while near dehydrated on the inside. The water bottles went empty and it was time to risk a drink from the creek. Drinking from wild sources is one of my favorite things; I always look for a spot that is well-aerated and with stages of rocks and sand for maximum natural filtration. I've sipped from a variety of springs and never had an issue, but of course caution is always recommended.
After a long afternoon of pushing through dense foliage, we reached the overnight area just before dusk. The Adirondack shelters, fire rings, and pit toilets were perfectly acceptable. However, we decided not to stay, opting instead to continue the loop trail. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't have made this additional push. My back ached and somewhere along the return journey my legs went numb below the knees. I was convinced my feet had become bloody stumps held together only by my hiking boots. Sasquatch's enthusiasm waned as well, and our shenanigans dwindled.
I don't remember the hike out as well as I do the hike in, probably because I was so tired. I do recall using a service road as a bit of a cut-through at one point, and that the sounds in the darkness were exhilarating and concerning all at once. In the end, we hiked an estimated 19.1 miles that day, which placed us in the category of average human. We were no less impressed with ourselves and our backpacking capabilities, and certainly earned the semi-delicious dinner-in-a-bag that we had!
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