Peak #1 - Pennsylvania

Mount Davis - 3,213 feet - Pennsylvania

First highpoint done!

Was this the most beautiful one? Probably not. The hardest one? Far from it. The longest or heck even known by most people? No and no.

But that's kind of why I liked picking this one. I've never been one for a lot of pomp and circumstance. I'm definitely more just put my head down and work quietly in the background kind of person. I've been ruminating on this project for longer than I can remember, and when I pulled the trigger on it at the beginning of this year, I told myself that I needed to get one done in March to get the momentum started. So what do you know when the only window you have is three days in early March? You make an excuse to visit your brother and then drag him through a winter wonderland with literally no one else on trail on a cold Pennsylvania Saturday.

Well, if I'm being honest, it had a little more to do with still making the first climb special to do Mount Davis first. Family shapes you more than almost anything else in your life, so why not do the first highpoint with someone who has known me longer than anyone and who I know will always have my back (like when my roommate calls him at 3am to bike across campus to fix things after some college shenanigans - we had some dinner time reminiscing with his partner about our Wisconsin days). While Ryan and I may not have the most in common and don't get to see each other that often, thankful that I know he is a solid foundation that I can always count on.

But before we get into the hike, want to share a little bit about our Friday before the hike. One of the reasons I wanted to raise money for the REI Cooperative Action Fund for this project was that in addition to admiring its mission, it would allow me to connect with non profits that have benefited from the fund on my travels. While in Philadelphia, I was able to connect with Vanessa of the Rail Park, a local non profit that is working to build a 3 mile urban park along historic railroad lines to connect 10+ neighborhoods in Philadelphia through infrastructure reuse models (think High Line in NYC). While this vision spans multiple years, they have finished Phase 1 of the project which is a pretty awesome space transformed on a historic elevated Viaduct where they have created a space for people to connect and come together through art, music, conversation, and conservation. One of the most striking things that I loved that Vanessa shared was how consciousentious their organization is about how their project plans effect the people of the neighborhoods in both positive and negative ways and how those reflections shape their decisions to be as intentional as possible to migrate the negative effects as much as they can. I really appreciated this pragmatism and I think that highlights how community is at the core of Rail Park's values. I've always believed that the some of the most important work that needs to be done in this world is at the community level and I was inspired to by the organizations commitment to that. So if you ever find yourself in Philly - Go give the Rail Park some love!

So after a little warm up meandering the Rail Project on Friday, Ryan and I left for the real deal on Saturday. After layering up in the empty Mount Davis picnic parking lot after a long drive on I76, we were staring at a whole lot of snow and not a whole lot of anything else. Apparently, he was had been lamenting to my mom that he hadn't seen snow this year. Well...you're welcome.

After a quick and painless jaunt through the forest, we made it to the tower at Mount Davis. We carefully climbed up the icy stairs and took the obligatory selfie and arms stretched out pictures and climbed down. While we weren't the only ones there (a family of four had driven to the tower as we were coming down), this is definitely not the time of year people usually go here and that part of it I liked. The do things different part of me was very fulfilled.

So with that - we turned right and walked the four and half mile side of the loop to get back to our car because as my brother put it, we aren't driving this far for a 20 min hike. Fair point and whole heartedly agree. Which is why, regardless of how long it takes to get to each highpoint on this journey, I think I'm going to commit to always doing at least a long hike in the area on each day.

And after a few careful creek crossings and some navigating to stay on the snow covered trail, we made it back to our car, put on some dry socks and started the long haul back with some obligatory gas station snacks and my go to suggestion for a long car ride - Mike Birbiglia stand up.

And then just like that, first one was done! While I had all the intentions to go into a reflective and philosophical post for this first one, I think I'll hold on that for now. Because if I'm being honest, I have no idea where this journey is going to take me and what its going to look like. Some days that's exhausting. Some days that's exciting. Put that's life, you can't plan it, you just have to put your head down and do the work.