And another Third Annual Adventure! The Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen is one of the most popular spots in Eastern PA, and becomes a spectacular frozen wonderland when the waterfalls freeze over. But it's closed in the winter unless you have the right equipment and experience in super icy conditions...

So we're hooking up with the Quest Outdoor Program at Bloomsburg University! They'll be our guides and provide crampons, ice axes and other gear needed to safely navigate the falls trail on Saturday. On Sunday, we'll strap on some snowshoes for another winter adventure. Great opportunity to try out some new winter sports without a huge expense!

Trip Details:
The Falls Trail hike is a seven mile loop up and down the waterfalls that Ricketts Glen is known for. The Falls Trail is very steep and fairly technical in the winter, and should not be attempted in the winter without proper gear. We'll be using iceaxes and crampons to navigate the icy rocks.

Day two will be a snowshoeing hike, which is really, really fun when you've got enough snow. We'll wander around some of the less difficult trails in the park. Snowshoes to be provided (and hopefully, snow to be provided, too).

Most reasonably-fit people can do these hikes. It's nice to have some experience hiking in the snow. You'll probably be doing some sliding on your butt, too. If you've done some hikes with good elevation gains, this should be easy for you.

Because of the large number of people we're expecting, we'll split up into two groups. One group will do the guided falls hike one day, and snowshoe the next...then we'll switch. Sorry, no discounts/refunds if you don't want to snowshoe and/or want to leave early Sunday. We can plan on leaving the park by about 4 pm Sunday, although we'll have to be out of the cabins earlier.

Sheet Three of the Carpool spreadsheet is a sign up for which day you'd like to hike the Falls Trail.

Lodging:
We'll be staying in modern cabins, with electricity, a stove, fridge, beds, common room, outdoor fire pit, etc, which are basically just little houses.

Food:
Bring your own food--breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks. Sheila has offered to coordinate a family-style pasta dinner on Saturday night, so please sign up to bring something on the food list (not quite finished yet :) If you don't sign up, you'll be responsible for your own Saturday night dinner.

We will also need to bring our own pots & pans & dishes...the cupboards will be bare! Let's try to coordinate this on the carpool spreadsheet so we don't have a dozen frying pans and giant saucepans....

Gear List:

• Heavy hiking boots (no mesh or light hikers please!)
  
• Weatherproof winter clothing (jacket, gloves, hat, etc)
  
• Warm midlayers (sweater, sweatpants, etc)
  
• Non-cotton base layer/long johns
  
• Wool or synthetic hiking socks
  
• Daypack and water bottle/bladder
  
• Sleeping bag & overnight stuff

It will be cold, but you'll be fine if you dress warm. You'll probably be sliding/falling in the snow as much as hiking in it, so wear those ski clothes--no knitted gloves! I may have some extras, let me know what you need and in what sizes.

If you've attended the past two years and are interested in being a guide for future trips, let Amy know--this will be your training hike!

Other:
We may be able to accommodate a few people for ice climbing, conditions permitting. If conditions permit, we may even get to try some real ice climbing up the frozen cascades. (Ice climbing is optional and at the discretion of our guides.)

Links:
Quest at Bloomsburg University
Ricketts Glen State Park
Carpool & Food Spreadsheet