Climbing Death

Panther Caves are a hidden gem of rock climbing (and a spot of spelunking) in Western PA. Unfortunately, this weekend tragedy struck an otherwise beautiful area:

A Saturday afternoon rock climbing expedition in Venango County turns tragic.  55-year-old Warren Ohio man Darryl Donley was killed while exploring a rock face in the Panther Caves area in President Township.  ...

... Various rescue teams in the area recovered Donley’s body from the bottom of the rock face.  He was pronounced dead by the Venango County Coroner, who said he suffered severe blunt force trauma to the head.

Full Article/Source: http://www.palive365.com/2012/09/17/ohio-man-killed-in-venango-county-rock-climbing-accident/ 

Though there are not many details available, initial reports do not sound as though the climbers were roped and equipped. Let's use this as a reminder to not cut corners on our adventures; always bring the proper gear and know how tp use it. 

Many people forget that Panther Caves is on private property, and in recent years the owners have been more and more reluctant to permit climbers to the cliffs. If this is one of your favorite crags, you should probably refrain from visiting, at least for now. This may be the end of the owners' willingness to allow climbers to visit. As always, it's up to the community to keep the outdoors open.

-Crash

Adventure: Turkey Run Falls

Rainy days. For many, they're the epitome of a lazy day, an excuse to stay inside. Those that know me well may expect that to be true for me since I loathe getting wet-- water is like my Kryptonite. But au contraire mon ami: lots of rain means that rivers and streams pick up. And if I don't pick up a paddle, I run out to some waterfalls.

To wit: Turkey Run Falls. After one initial attempt to locate this plunge near the Lower Clarion River on the outskirts of the Pa Wilds, I decided to save it for a rainy day... quite literally. The normal shallow depths of the stream didn't lend itself to picturesque water features (see the really dry creek bed in the summer to the right.) Glad I did. Several hours of a downpour allowed this riffle to swell into a some fine scenery.

Surprisingly, I even managed to coax Lavaricky, Soco, and Nelly all to don their rain coats and slosh along with me. Starting at the bridge over Turkey Run, Nelly and myself made our way down the Eastern bank while the ladies rebelled against us on the opposing side. Neither took pictures so all I have is my view. It's not much but a nice showing for a spontaneous trip on a rainy day.

So the lesson is: don't shy away from a rainy day! Instead, just use it as your advantage... an adventurer can benefit from the rain for some wicked paddling, deeper swimming holes, and-- obviously-- better looking waterfalls. Turkey Run Falls isn't much... but it's even less if the water drops to its normal levels. Good adventure to me!

Tally-ho!
-Captain Crash

Adventure: Whittimore Hill

If you're adventuring into good ol' Cameron County or Potter County, you don't have a lot of options for resupplying yourself. The heart of the Pa Wilds is pretty desolate, with entire lumber towns deserted and long stretches of nothingness. So when Lavaricky and I spent a few days exploring what the locals call God's Country with Soco at her cabin, we were forced to make use of one of the only actual town's around, Emporium, mostly because we wanted somewhere to catch the Pens game.

But without much outside of the town itself, there were even some adventures to be had nearby. Proof of this: Whittimore Hill. Just up the plateau from this quaint village was a great view that brought the whole settlement into view, along with the surrounding valleys and forests. It was a quick stop at a snowy overlook, a perfect pit stop in my books.

Stunning view of a really friendly town... maybe too friendly as we learned at a nearby restaurant. But the pizza was good and we did talk them into putting the hockey game on TV. Great way to end an adventure within an adventure.

Tally-ho!
-Crash

Adventure: Mary's Rock

Not only am I going out of my jurisdiction here, this is probably the largest assembly of Team Crash that will ever appear here!

Not too far from the metro area of Washington DC are the famous Shenandoah Mountains. Protected by a National Park, this scenic ridge offers some of the East Coast's best vistas; from simple pull-offs on paved roads to long distance boot-killers like Old Rag Mountain. On more of a middle-of-the-road kind of journey is the hike to Mary's Rock, a mountain peak with a stone precipice offering great views of the beautiful valleys below. The hike has a lot of elevation gain over two miles, so its no particularly long but it is a bit strenuous. But any challenge is worth it for those lofty views.

The medium challenge, high reward combination of Mary's Rock lured me in while I was spending my spring break in Virginia. After a weekend of Penguins hockey in the Capitol with Bilo, Monty, and Scooter, the boys dropped me off in Front Royal where I rendezvoused with a massive contingent of the ROC (Recreational Outdoor Club) from Clarion University. It was a well-choreographed-- albeit somewhat complicated-- plan, allowing me to meet up with long time Team Crash sidekicks like Ox, Mary, and Ber-Ber, who even brought my Jeep, Roxie, with them. Hell, even Sandy the Dog was there. They were counting on me to guide them to a hike or two, so after converging on their camp and many long rounds of Uno around the campfire, I obliged.

And with that, we were off to Mary's Rock!

After the jump, many pictures of the platoon I guided up the mountain, my buggered up eyeball, and, of course, fantastic mountain-top views from Mary's Rock...

Adventure: Overholt Distillery

It's my own personal Whiskey Rebellion, appropriately right here in Southwestern Pa.

I know what you're thinking. If Captain Crash went to a distillery it must have been to get drunk. Wrong! Its time for a little urban ex.... well not really 'urban' since it's in the middle of nowhere... so we'll just call it abandonment exploration.... or guerrilla tourism... whatever, just read on for a sweet adventure!

If you're coming down the Bottom Yough by canoe or kayak or the Great Allegheny Passage by bike or on foot, you may have seen the large old structures rising, very much out of character, above the tree tops on the northern banks of the Youghiogheny River. And if you don't just pass on by like most do, you'd get to see the historic site of the A. Overholt & Co. Distillery.

It was here that the rather famous Old Overholt Whiskey was made. The extensive facility built in the 1850's covered several acres in the small town of Broad Ford, not far from Connellsville. Despite the age of the facility, it operated for multiple generations and even more surprisingly most of the structures still remain. Obviously the disrepair is overwhelming-- roofs fallen off, holes in floors, smashed out windows, entire stairwells collapsed-- but that just makes exploring all the more fun. You can even still see the remains of a swinging cable bridge that crossed the Yough for workers to have quick access from the village of Adelaide.

Sparky, Gunz, and myself made a wintry trip to the old Overholt Distillery, accessing the facility on snow covered trails via Sparky's Jeep. The multiple buildings left us with several hours of exploration, climbing onto the roof tops and ducking down into tunnels below.

After the jump, a crap load of sweet pictures from Team Crash's trip into the Overholt Distillery. Grab a drink and click "Read More" 

Adventure: Tytoona Cave

Most valleys in Pennsylvania have names. Many bear the namesakes of early settlers; others just seem arbitrary altogether. But the Sinking Valley in the Central Mountains of the state might be the most appropriately named of them all. This rural stretch between Altoona and Tyrone quietly sits just like any other, but below the forests, meadows and streams is an intricate network of underground passages. So much so that one just might think the valley will soon sink into the earth. Sinkholes, springs, and even arches abound, but best of all, the valley presents an adventurer with a collection of caves for some spelunking.

Of all of these subterranean wonders, Tytoona Cave is the crown jewel of the Sinking Valley. The name is combination of the two closest towns, Altoona and Tyrone, and once actually offered tours of its flooded passages. Today it remains open to experienced cavers in a nature preserve, with some of the 'trail' from its commercialized days still remaining in the interior to keep feet dry.

When Lavaricky and Scooby finally coaxed me into coming to camp at their beloved hometown park at Prince Gallitzin, I knew that a caving trip into the Sinking Valley was a must do. And it was too tough to convince those two girls to follow me into the depths of Tytoona Cave.

After the Jump, pics from our trip into the cave plus a stop at the Arch Spring. Click Read More!!

Adventure: Prayer Rock

Reposted from the Archives...

Crash's Introduction:

"Ohhh-oh! We're halfway there, ohh-OH! Livin' on a prayer. Ok, I couldn't resist the obvious Jovi reference. This one is short and sweet though so there will be little opportunity for lyrical quotation. I was on my way to Carlisle after camping near State College for the night to meet up with Spess. Actually, I was on my way to Thousand Steps while on my way to Carlisle using a map of overlooks in Central Pa as a guide when I relaized I would just a few miles from Prayer Rock. I had never heard of it before, but it appeared to be right along a road that passed over the mighty Jacks Mountain in the Appalacians. So why not one more stop on the chain? I traversed away from the beautiful farmland to head right up the mountain to see the view from a narrow ridge. We'll make it, I swear."

Please 'Read More' to see the pictures and commentary after the Jump.

2011

Let you good folks down. Busy finals lead into busy holidays which lead into lots and lots of Pittsburgh hockey. Let's all just blame Kirby just cuz. Gonna get this year for the blog back on track. Expect some adventures added ASAP. For realzies this time.

Also, go Pens.

Update Soon

Adventures will roll out again in a few days. Promise. Law school is killing me. Kirby is MIA. Chaos ends tonight.

Kayaking World Record

Decided to take a quick study break to make a post; not enough time for a real one though. Instead of adding one of my own adventures, I'm showcasing someone else's that caught my eye... something I do every so often here.

Check out Tyler Bradt. This dud's not just a badass kayaker, he's a badass kayaker that has made history. He recently gave danger the middle finger when he paddled his Dagger kayak down a river in Washington state... and right over Palouse Falls. The 186 foot plunge is unlike anything I've ever seen, and makes me feel guilty for ever even slightly boasting about my own whitewater experiences. Major kudos to this madman.

 

The entire event is well chronicled on NorCal Blogs with pictures, interviews, and best of all video. The video is just surreal; unbelievably awesome. This is a must watch for all adventurers, even if it is way away from my native Pittsburgh.

Tally-ho!
-Crash

Adventure: Spring Wood

Story time! The most common question I get from fans of the site, fellow adventurers, and customers while I'm guiding is hands down "how do you find all these obscure but awesome places?" Well, it usually takes a lot of work: many hours of pouring over research, old books, maps, satellite images, and word-of-mouth accounts. And that's just the leg work before packing gear and finding the real logistics to getting there. That said, sometimes I stumble across some of the best destinations for an adventure purely by accident.

To wit: Spring Wood. During my days in Clarion I was searching for the location of the elusive Alum Rock Falls, and narrowed it down geographically to the point that I could find is general area on a map. A friend took that data to the county courthouse to plot it on the tax maps and find the landowner so I could seek permission to visit. The contact info was forwarded to me and when I gave the a guy a ring I asked if it was possible to visit the cliffs on his property which he had pleasantly dubbed Spring Wood. He enthusiastically arranged a meeting with me to discuss my visit.

After that, I was given basically full freedom to explore his huge tract of private land along the Lower Clarion River and his notes on the coolest features including the cliff so long as I agreed not to camp. When I compared it to my own research something seemed.... off. Aside from the fact he was calling the cliffs Indian Rock instead, everything was just too far apart to be; it had to be different places. I traced everything backwards to realize that my friend had screwed up plotting Alum Rock on the tax maps and his error found a point about a mile further down the river. Yet the landowner gave me directions to a cliff on his property. Confused, I did a quick ultralight trek. Sure enough, there it was: another large cliff overlooking the Clarion River. My friend not only screwed up, but his miscalculation just happened to plot exactly onto another cliff. What a gift!

So eventually I came back, joined by Lavaricky, Buddy, and Ox, with climbing gear in tow to actually spend some time at Spring Wood. There was a lot to see including Indian Rock, some "caves", cascades, and of course my beloved Clarion River.

After the jump, see the madness for yourself...

EATZ

Seriously, could there be a more appropriate background for the banner above than the iconic Primanti sandwich? No.

OM NOM NOM. Most people that travel with me will tell you that I'm obsessed with finding the best places to eat everywhere I go. I love region's signature foods and I love hole in the wall hangouts with great food. There's no better supplement to a good adventure than a good meal.

This was one of the oldest features on my website, long long ago and I've been asked 21836812638236 times to bring it back. So here you go. This page will highlight my favorite places to snag a bite to eat when I'm on the road. They're scattered everywhere in both location and content, and there is no rhyme or reason to what I select. Some aren't even still in business. Don't even care if you agree with my picks.

---

Primanti Bros.
Location: All around the Pittsburgh area.
Hey, this is a Pittsburgh based website. Can't not have Primanti's on here, and it's gotta be first. The sandwiches are as epic as food comes. Meat, slaw, and fries bundled between two huge slabs of fresh bread. Total win for your tummy.

Glisan's

Location: Laurel Highlands: Farmington, Pa.
This is total adventure tradition. Gunz, Sparky, Ternous and all the other long-time sidekicks know the glory of this little road-side restaurant. It's location on the National Road has made it convenient for so many trips, and the great homestyle food brings us back along with many locals, kayakers, rafters, and hikers. Lots of nostalgia for us when it comes to Glisan's, from savoring the trully massive rolls, fiending for some home made pie, or rockin' the jukebox with 'Desperado'. As their slogan goes, at Glisan's "you're only a stranger once."

Red Caboose

Location: Rostraver, Pa
Long ago pretty much every member of Team Crash lived in bumhole Elizabeth and used Rt 51 to travel to most adventures. The Caboose was the perfect place for a pregame meal. Its a legend where we grew up for its simple, cheap menu. Chili cheese dogs, grilled cheeseburgers, and french fries smothered in gravy round out the tastiness, and travelers will literally line out the door on most Saturday afternoons for these quick meals served in styrofoam trays.

County Seat

Location: Pa Wilds; Clarion, Pa
A little play on words for being right next to the Clarion County Courthouse. You're only options at this time limited eatery on Main Street is breakfast and lunch, but you can't go wrong with either. I lived in walking distance to this place during my undergrad years, so it was a favorite for a pre-adventure meal or a hangover reliever. And its the only restaurant I've been to that serves braunswagger (no clue how to spell that) sandwiches. That in itself is fantastic.

Wild Side
Location: Laurel Highlands; Farmington, Pa
When I moved into my TV-less cabin temporarily while guiding around Ohiopyle, I needed a place to watch hockey and such. Nemacolin, where I ended up working, answered with a huge sports bar they dubbed the Wild Side. This place gets away from the stuffy classiness of the rest of the 5 star accommodations and gives me a place to drink vodka, eat BBQ, and yell at the TV when the Penguins don't do well. It's kind of a Dave and Busters type setting with tons to do like arcade games, bowling, and even a climbing wall. So its always a fun place to stop in at whether I was with co-workers after a hard day at work, friends stopping up to go rafting, my family relaxing at the cabin for a weekend, or just all by myself to just watch some damn TV.
 
Falls City Pub
Location: Laurel Highlands; Ohiopyle, Pa
If you're a guide around Ohiopyle, you drink here. This awesome hang out is owned by Wilderness Voyageurs, one of the rafting outfitters located right in Ohiopyle, so it attracts tons of rafters, kayakers, and tourists alike. Live bands, a few rounds of pool, a great selection in a juke box, some TVs tuned to Pittsburgh sports: all these our nice touches. But dammit the best feature of this place is getting a great, hot meal after a day of getting thrashed about in rapids.


Bud Murphy's
Location: Laurel Highlands; Connellsville, Pa
Years ago Gunz and I asked around the town of Connellsville for a good place to eat since we passed through so often. EVERYONE responded with Bud Murphy's. And for good reason! This local sports bar and restaurant has good food and good prices and you can always catch the Steelers and Pens on TV. And no one ever seems to mind when I wander in still covered in mud from nearby Opperman's Cave.

Sister's Cafe
Location: Laurel Highlands; Confluence, Pa
There's just something about a small quiet town like Confluence that begs for a cozy cafe full of regulars drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. Great market research by Sister's Cafe for providing exactly that. Never had a bad breakfast here when about to start a paddle or hike nearby and service is always super friendly. And it's close to Tractor Square Dancing during the Pumpkin Festival. WIN.
 

Bob's Subs
Location: Pa Wilds; Clarion, Pa
Soco calls them mayo sandwiches. But to be correct, it's a housemade blend of mayo and Italian dressing. There's also meat and cheese in there somewhere. Might be a heart attack waiting to happen but these things taste incredible. Ate here consistently during my undergrad years at Clarion, and still make a point to drop by Main Street to stuff one of these delicious monsters in my backpack when I return for an adventure.
 

Tom Reid's
Location: St. Paul, Mn.
Hockey bar in a hockey city. How could I NOT stop in during my time in the Twin Cities? This is the quintessential pregame drink stop for hockey games at the Xcel Energy Center down the block and it's also a great place to hang out and watch pretty much every hockey game going down that night. Crowded party right before Wild home games, but it tapers off into a great spot to get a meal and watch some shinny, no matter who you call your home team. And as with any place in Minnesota, tons of friendly people, doncha know?
 

Harry's
Location: Washington, D.C.
One time the ESPN Zone in Washington totally ruined a meal when me, Bilo, Monty, and Scooter were in town. We were in for a lame, hunger-filled night until a sign offering dinner till 2 a.m. at the nearby Harry's Bar gleamed like a beacon in the gloomy dark. We were treated to great food, good, booze, and a playlist of music that seemed like we picked it ourselves. Seriously, "You're the Best Around" from Karate Kid AND Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer" in one night? Unbelievable. Thank you, Harry's, for making that road trip great. And getting me drunk.


Jimmy Mac's
Location: Rochester, NY
Sadly, this place is long gone. Bummer. But it's memory lives on with me, Gunz, and Sparky. Awesome sandwiches and even better french fries. Great sports tavern right in front of the impressive waterfall right in downtown Rochachacha. No clue how this place flopped, but when me and Sparky tried to drop by the next time we were passing through upstate NY it had dispersed. But its legend still lives on as one of the best places Team Crash ever had a meal.
 

Sheetz
Location: Freaking Everywhere
Wawa eat your heart out. Gas, snacks, and made to order food. Seriously, its the perfect pit stop on any road trip, adventure or not. It's convenient beyond belief. When I see those big red and yellow signs on the side of the road, I'm just drawn right in. Can't get enough of those jalapeno cheese poppers.
 

Burger Hut
Location: Central Valleys; Altoona, Pa
Lavaricky and Erica always talked about this place like it was the greatest cuisine available. Truth be told it's just your average ice cream shack with fried food offerings. But I couldn't help mocking their enthusiasm by being overly enthusiastic of the place last time I was up on old Wopsonock Mountain. That said, the food really ain't bad and the prices are cheap. And ice cream is ALWAYS a good idea.
 

Restaurant
Location: SHAMOKIN
You don't even know.


Port Clinton Hotel
Location: Central Valleys; Port Clinton, Pa
If you've ever been to a 'Trail Town' along the Appalachian Trail, then you can imagine this place. If not, I'll give it a go. As the AT winds down between Hawk Mountain and Pulpit Rock, it brings hikers to the tiny valley town of Port Clinton, and its namesake tavern has adapted to the clientele that the famous trail brings in. Enter into the restaurant and you're greeted with designated places to leave your muddy boots and oversized backpacks before getting to the tables. Another sign also offers the long term hikers a hot shower for a few bucks upstairs. Once you're finally situated comfortably inside, it's time to order a signature Philly cheesesteak to blow out your gut that's been surviving on freeze-dried powder and soup. It is eastern Pa, afterall. These sandwiches are BEASTLY and I still insist that they're the best cheesesteaks available, even beating out Pat's and Geno's in Philly. Make sure to order some fries too!

 

Geno's Cheesesteaks / Pat's Cheesesteaks
Location: Scumhole Region; Philadelphia, Pa
I hate Philly. I really do. Like a lot. But I do have to give them props on one thing: cheesesteaks. What an incredible invention! And even though the recipe is simple enough, they just seem to do it better there somehow. Pat's and Geno's are the quintessential eateries when it comes to this legendary sandwich, and the competitors sit right across the street from each other. So do what I do: buy one of each while you're there to compare and wash it down with some birch beer. Then get out of Philly before you get shot.


Arubas
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl
I have a theory that if you want to know a good place to eat in a town or city you're unfamiliar with, ask a cop. Do it all the time with great results. When I tried it Ft. Lauderdale a kindly cop writing parking tickets directed me, Bilo, Mary, and Ashley up to a place right on the beach called Arubas for some fresh seafood and views of the ocean right out the window. Perfect aquatic fare and location for a trip to the Sunshine State.
 

Winking Lizard
Location: Cleveland, Oh
It's tough to find anything in the giant concrete graveyard that is Cleveland that would be even slightly likable. But a place that has the ability to put on any Pittsburgh sports broadcast is a good one. This place has million TV's with like every sports feed ever available. Tell your waitress you wanna watch some Penguins hockey and after they struggle to figure the controls out while you put down your first few beers from their huge selection you will eventually be treated to your sporting event of choice with some good tavern food too. Win, even if you are still stuck in Cleveland.
 

Kathleen's
Location: Beaufort, SC
Shrimp Burgers!!! You may think this was just a vague joke in Bubba's rambling in Forrest Gump, but the Shrimp Burger is actually a big time specialty around coastal South Carolina. The concoction seems to emanate from  the harbor town of Beaufort which is oozing with antebellum spirit. When I was camping off the coast of here on Hunting Island, I made damn sure to stop into town to track down this legendary sandwich. This great cafe serves some of the best, according to all the locals I asked, and has a great setting right on the waterfront harbor. I was hesitant despite my love of seafood, but the shrimp burger is certainly something you need to try and Kathleen's is a great place to get it... and the music selection there is damn good too!
 

Lumberjack Steakhouse
Location: Ridgway, Pa
The name just beckoned me in the first time I made it that far up the Clarion River in my canoe. The steaks here are great and the atmosphere is awesomely rustic as a throwback to when this river town in the Pa Wilds was a huge center for the burgeoning lumber industry. There's a few TV's to catch a game on after you spend a day tramping through that northern Pa snow, if you can manage to not be distracted  by the freaking toy train that goes around the room long enough!

Nick Tahou
Location: Rochester NY
There is only one thing you need to know about this place: they invented Garbage Plates. It's the local specialty, and you know how I am about eating local specialties. Or maybe you don't, since most readers of the blog don't actually know me in person. Anyway, you take your meat, your fries, your sides, your bread, your whatever and just throw it all together on the plate with no real plan or structure. Then smother the whole deal in your choice of condiments. Lots of imitators, but this place in downtown Rochachcha is the original and still do it best... well, apparently since it's the only place I've gone to for Garbage Plates.



Pechins Cafeteria
Location: Laurel Highlands; the Greater Dunbar Area
Dilapidated shanties, dented groceries, and a parking lot of leftover blacktop and gravel filled with station wagons, pick-em-up trucks flying rebel flags, and ATV's parked like they were cars with groceries loaded on the gun racks: that was the amazing sight at Pechins. If you went to this place before it closed shop, you know that I can't put it into words. Anecdotal attempt: I once told a girl I would treat her to lunch, took her to the shack that was Pechins where she ordered a hamburger, fries, and small pop. Cost me exactly 1 dollar. Ridiculous. Adventures have never been the same since the demise of Dunbar's only true landmark.

Mickey's Diner
Location: St. Paul, MinneSOta
Look familiar? IT WAS IN THE MIGHTY DUCKS. Otherwise, this is your stereotypical roadside diner... sandwiched between the skyscrapers of downtown St. Paul. And it's like dinner and a show: the friendliest people living in the state of the friendliest people seem to be the only employees, and some of them are beyond hilarious. Snag a seat on a stool at the bar in the old dining car and get entertainment from the griddle cooks as they whip some great burgers, shakes, and pancakes. Just beware that showing up in another team's hockey jersey will likely get ya harassed a little.