The Phoenix Backpacking Club

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About us

Rising up like the mythical Phoenix, this group has been organized to replace the former Northeast Ohio Backpacking Club, which helped many in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and elsewhere get out on trail more often, and to make new friends who share a passion for trail time. If you like to backpack, and don't like to go out by yourself, and especially if you are a former member of NEOH Backpacking Club, this club is for you. The legend of the phoenix inspired the name for the new club. Our mission will be to allow club members to plan trips, to sign up members to participate, and to share discussions about backpacking. Most trips are likely to be within a few hours drive of NE Ohio, but some will be to destinations much farther away in the USA or even international.

Featured event

Allegheny Front Trail, North East quadrant, in search of BLUEBERRIES

Fri, Jul 24 · 5:00 PM EDT

Black Moshannon State Park, 4216 Beaver Rd, Philipsburg, PA, US

I want to thank Two Tents for coming up with this trip idea some years ago.

We are headed to The Allegheny Front trail, NE quadrant, in search of wild blueberries. Tasty and delicious. This wont be a high miles hike. At most 5 to 7 miles on Saturday and less on Sunday. 15 miles total for the weekend if that. It's all about the berries. I have done this trip before and remember where we found berries in the past. Friday we will need to shuttle one or more vehicles to the parking lot at the junction of the east loop of the trail and route 504. Please arrive at our gathering location on time. Once we have the shuttle done, we will hike N a small distance (about 2 miles as the crow flies) on the Shingle Mill trail to our intended campsite (40.9397, -78.0606). Then relax, look for a swimming hole, take a swim, take a nap.

On Saturday, we will continue N on the Shingle Mill trail and then turn right on the main AFT when we reach the junction. We will head at a leisurely pace to our intended camp (40.9582, -77.9847). As we hike we will be looking for the berries. We will stop to collect them. More than once; more than twice. Bring a rigid container to put them in so they are not crushed. You are allowed to sample as you pick. Our goal is to have berries for a desert on Saturday and for pancakes on Sunday. Bacon is needed. Yum! Potentially participants can help carry the cooking gear and mixes, so be ready to stash an item or two in your pack. If we decide to do a group cook breakfast, you may not need to pack a breakfast for Sunday morning unless you don't want bacon and pancakes, or you want to augment them with a personal favorite.

On Sunday, after breakfast has been fully enjoyed, we will continue hiking clockwise on the AFT a few miles until we reach our shuttled vehicle(s) on route 504. We will then bring everyone back to the gathering spot where we met on Friday and head for home.

LNT. Pack it in/pack it out. Only firewood on the fire. You need a Waiver on file or bring it with you. On Friday we will meet at the parking lot above the beach at Moshannon State park. The beach and parking lot are on Pa route 504 (40.916110, -78.058890). The location we shuttle to is (40.916970, -77.977680). This trip is OK for beginners. Contact me if you need to on any other details.