Adventure: Minnehaha Falls

This one is wayyy out of my jurisdiction.

Minnesota is renowned for its countless lakes, making many people forget about its many waterfalls. So when me and Bilo's annual Penguin game trip brought us to the wonderful Twin Cities, I made sure to incorporate a waterfall into our travel plans. Luckily, I needn't send us out of our way to do it. Minnehaha Falls is right in the urban fabric of St. Paul and Minneapolis, dropping over 50 feet on its way to the mighty Mississippi River.

It was the dead of winter when Bilo, Mary, Liz, and myself visited so the falls were an incredible curtain of ice to explore. And its just just a damn fun name to say. Minnehaha.

(Summer time picture on the right blatantly stolen from www.mspmoretolife.com)




My awesome winter pictures:

So of course I had the up the ante and explore a little further. It looked like I could climb up to those gaps in the ice and walk under the cliff. So I did, coaxing Bilo to follow. We were rewareded with and absolutely STUNNING cave of beautiful blue ice. Pictures will never do justice to just how cool it was. I helped Mary and Liz climb up to enjoy it too.

And then I chased a bird when we were walking back on the trail!! OMG!!!

If you're ever in the Twin Cities, Minnehaha Falls is a must see whether its warm or cold. Its easily accessible, a short walk and just truly scenic. The fact that it was frozen over at first was a little disappointing, but we quickly realized that it may have made it even more interesting. Fact: Minnesota is cold. Now say it with me, Minnehaha!

Happy Veterans Day

Fun fact, my ZJ is a tribute to the Jeeps my great uncles used in World War II.

Thanks.

Adventure: Sandy Creek Trail

 As some of my sidekicks know, I've never been much into biking. Call me a wimp, but I guess I just always let peddling fall into the background of adventures like paddling. (Pun with a picture, lolz!) But have long planned to complete a through ride of the Great Allegheny Passage upon its completion. With that time growing nearer, I've turned to riding a bike here and there as a form of adventure as well as training. On a freezing day while I was still in Clarion, I randomly decided to take a spin on the Sandy Creek Trail as a way to take in the fall colors.

Like most of the biking trails that are of the non-biking variety, this one is a stripped down railroad line, originally intended as just the beginning of a route from New York and Chicago, with small town Franklin envisioned as a bustling transportation hub. Much to the investors' dismay but adventurers' pleasure, the full line of the Jamestown, Franklin, & Clearfield Railroad was never realized, eventually leaving a scenic corridor along Sandy Creek and the Allegheny River. At only 12 miles, its a short trail with few amenities but its packed full of features with numerous bridges and even a tunnel along the route from the village of Van to the Fisherman's Cove. But the best feature of all is the breathtaking views of the autumn leaves, something the Clarion and the surrounding Pa Wilds are well known for.

Click read more to see the entire ride after the jump!

Adventure: Fort Neccessity

Reposted from the Archives...

As Crash Originally Wrote:

"Before Captain Crash explored the Laurel Highlands, before ambitious immigrants dug the deep mines into their mountainsides, before early settlers farmed their homesteads in that wilderness, before even the American Revolution, a young British soldier by the name of George Washington roamed across the very same ground that has hosted so many of my adventures today. His mission,however, was very different than my own: push back the French forces, aligned with the local Indian tribes, to claim to the land to what would become Pittsburgh in the name of the British Empire. A few skirmishes lead to Washington's most dismal defeat as a commander, the Battle of Fort Necessity. Knowing his troops were about to be attacked, Washington ordered the construction of a fort in the Great Meadows, amidst the Pondfield area of the Laurel Highlands. This fort can still be seen today, albeit a reconstruction as the French burned the original. But the Great Meadow is entirely original, an amazing expanse of clear hills within the wooded mountaintops. Its tranquil setting hides the blood that once soaked it in an historic massacre, leading to stories of being haunted all this time later. Dramatic yes, but not horribly adventurous as it all sits as a park now. So Gunz and I saved this for one of those days when we wanted to take it easy... and the day came under the beautiful fall colors."

Crash's Pictures:

Heading out...

The rebuilt fort and earthworks where the battle occurred...

Hiking through the Great Meadows surrounding the fort, where bodies of soldiers were strewn about. Crash notes:

"From the Fort we headed up into the endlessness that is the Great Meadows. Some nice paths allowed us to loop through them for a mile or two. Crazy that 250 years ago people were fighting to the death right where we were stepping, literally defining the course of history. Many people claim the spirits of the soldiers and Indians here are restless and start their battles again. Not today. It was cool and eeriely quiet, flanked by bright autumn colors."

Analysis:
No reportable phenomena, as per both Crash and Gunz. Nothing shows in photos. No true investigation took place as Crash and Gunz were unable to gain access to the battlefield at night as it is a violation of the historic site's rules, and the alleged hauntings have been described as nocturnal only.


Crash's Conclusion:
A fairly abrupt ending but there really wasn't much more worth showing, other than some hardcore tree climbing I guess. You may be thinking this is pretty weak for my adventures but c'mon... we all know I'm a sucker for this historical crap. Ghosts? None. But just walking through those meadows, knowing that young men died where you stand while defending what they believed in is a truely intense feeling. So it may have been educational, but I'm claiming it to be adventurous as well. If you're in the area, I seriously recommend checking it out... unlike most of my trips, you'll find signs for this place all along the roads. Can't miss it.

---

Thanks for looking and reading this great piece of history and the paranormal.
//Kirby//

Adventure: Scripture Rocks

Reposted from archives, with updated materials...

Kirby's Introduction:

Urban legends and ghost stories are prevalent in nearly every city, town, and community. So often they are nothing more than the brainchild of a creative con, perverted by generations of retellings with even more fabricated details. But when one of these stories is fact rather than fiction, the proof tends to border on the outright bizarre. Enter: Scripture Rocks.

Scripture Rocks are an eerie, allegedly haunted even, monument to either one man's ascent toward divinity or descent into insanity. Located just outside of the small town of Brookville in the Pa Wilds, these hundred year old petroglyphs are perhaps one of the greatest legends of not just Jefferson County, but all of Pennsylvania.

Captain Crash happens to be a bit of an expert on this topic in particular. He even served as the head guide for a short but well made documentary about the legend of Scripture Rocks. His role in the video, presented below, serves as a much better medium than the usual picture and dialogue combination typically utilized here. Monty, co-directing the documentary, made a great effort to bring one of Captain Crash's best adventures to life and even add to it.

After the jump, a great documentary to watch, a fantastic legend to read, and thrilling pictures to view. Just Click 'Read More' from the homepage.

Adventure: Bells Mills Bridge

Reposted from the Archives:

As many of you know, Captain Crash is practically the leading authority on all things haunted in the Pittsburgh region. Ghost hunts are his bread and butter; and while his lengthy ghost stories are renowned, some are pretty simple. The tale of Bells Mills Bridge is one of latter.

As Crash originally wrote:

"Ternous and I were bored as shit one night and, knowing his apartment was relatively close by, I said hey let's go look for Bells Mills. What's at Bells Mills you ask? Not much. The only remaining covered bridge in Westmoreland County and one of but a fraction in the state still in use. Oh and its supposedly haunted. As the local folklore tells, the ghost of the original contractor of the bridge watches over the bridge and follows everyone across it to ensure their safe passage. Not knowing where exactly the bridge was located, I navigated Ternous and his spifftastic little Neon in circles on random backroads until we finally found it. The pics are few and self-explanatory (not to mention of poor quality,) so no further commentary is needed."

Crash's Pictures:

Analysis:
Though there appears to the occurrence of 'orbs' in the latter two pictures, it is unlikely that these constitute the phenomenon in a paranormal sense. These appear to simply be anomalies
upon the lens. Couple this with a lack of any sensation or physical anomalies reported by either Crash or Ternous, and it is conclusive that this site provided no paranormal activity, at least during the 'Team Crash' investigation. The possibility of this bridge being haunted is further exacerbated by Crash's inability to locate any historical information to confirm the story that would provide the alleged ghost, which my research also confirmed.

Conclusion:
Not Haunted


Closing, as originally written by Crash:

"Probably the least creepy of all ghost hunts I've embarked upon, with not even so much as a strange noise or funny feeling the whole time. Just darkness, and lots of it. But alas, what can the Captain expect from just a short jaunt taken at complete random rather than my usual well-planned adventures. My absolute fascination with bridges forced me to post this one up though."

---

Thanks for reading my first real post here...

//Kirby//

BOO

Happy Halloween everyone. Just a short note from yours truly about what to expect up until that most haunted of days. Many of the fans of this site come for the crazy ghost stories and urban legends I have accumulated from throughout the Pittsburgh region; the ghost of Polly Williams at White Rock, the curse of General Mad Anthony, the murder of Betty Knox on Dunbar Mountain, the mystery of Douglas Stahlman's carvings at the Scripture Rocks, and so on and so on.

Yep, I've compiled a lot of spooky stuff and every October I like to showcase it right here. This year Kirby will be leading the charge. He's already started bringing back some great haunts from the website's old format, and creating a great listing to keep track of them all! And hopefully yours truly can add a few new things too.

Until then, happy haunting everyone.

Boo!
-Crash

From Out of the Shadows...

Hey there folks. Just a little introduction, which Crash had alluded to earlier this week.

You can call me Kirby. I've helped Crash on the technical side of this website since its inception, long before it ever took on its current format. Though I am also a Pittsburgh native, unlike Crash I am quite content to stay in the city and do not feel a need to run around with his 'Team Crash' in whatever strange scheme he comes up with for a weekend. That said, I do find his exploits intriguing and hate to see his website floundering... especially after all the help I've contributed in its creation and maintenance.

I've always been a behind the scenes guy here, but as per Crash's request I'm going to take a more obvious role; at least for awhile, so Crash can get priorities straightened out as Law School continues to devour his soul. As stated, I do not join the Captain nor his comrades on his ridiculous crusades... but I have been given full access to Crash's knowledge and photos from the adventures.

As such, I will be adding a few new 'adventures', but for the most part I will simply be reinstating pages that were previously posted but are lurking in cyberspace in the old formats of this website. I will also be restoring the different sections of this website, fixing up the design and such, and reinstating ongoing, regular 'features' that left the website when Crash lost his internet access when moving to the mountains. I am a writer afterall, so this should be a fun exercise for me. It is apparent that in the realm of 'guerrilla tourism' this truly is the authoritative source for the Pittsburgh region.

It is likely that I will lack the sarcasm, humor, and uncanny writing style that the Captain maintained here, but I hope I can really hope entertain in his absence in my own ways. Crash will still be posting from time to time, albeit infrequently. In the meantime, you may look forward to the reemergence of lost adventures, event coverage, outfitter recommendations, and more. I hope you will enjoy my presence in the forefront here at the Adventures of Captain Crash!

//Kirby//

The Results Are In... And an Announcement is Coming!

Cue the Price is Right Fail Trombones...



Team Crash's exciting result in the Warren County Great Race.................. did not finish!!!

Team Crash's exciting result in the Pittsburgh Most Amazing Race................ did not run!!!


Yep, it's true. After all the hype, all the preparation we totally failed. We started out kicking ass in the Warren race, but a few mistakes slowed us down until we came up one challenge short of finishing the race. In our defense, most teams didn't finish. Can't even give a real place number, but we were told we were around 35 or so out of like 100. So top third-ish for a race we really had no clue about. Bilo, Sparky, and Gunz did a great job and we will definitely make a big time run at it next year.

Due to personal reasons beyond my control, I was forced to drop out of the Most Amazing Race at the last minute and Gunz didn't have enough time to find a replacement. Huge bummer, but it was for charity and I'm glad that the funds we raised will still be getting put to good use; the Salvation Army was the real winner of that race, afterall!

I didn't get any pictures from the Warren County Great Race. I may recap it later like I did with the 2009 Most Amazing Race if I have time, I might not. We'll see.

---

Speaking of circumstances that limit my shit, you've probably noticed that despite my full reign of internet now that I'm back in the city my updates are few and far between. I just have too much going on right now. So an old friend has come forward to help keep the blog rolling while I catch up on this whole "law school" thing. He should be popping up soon!
Just sayin...

Tally-ho!
-Crash

Get Ready, Get Set...

On the eve of our first adventure race of the year!

This year will be Team Crash's first entry in the Warren County Great Race. This race will send us all over Warren County up near the New York state line in the heart of Pa Wilds. Along the way we will have some adventurous tasks, but for the most part there's going to be a lot of strategic puzzles and such. Assembled Team Crash accordingly; joining me will be Bilo, a local to navigate, Sparky, to help solve the puzzles, and Gunz to handle any of the physical tasks. Good team, eh? Wish us luck.

Next weekend will be me and Gunz as a duo in the Most Amazing Race, which is the Pittsburgh edition of the CBS reality game of the same name... 'cept its for charity. We're still looking for sponsors so please throw a few bucks to a really really great charity that helps underprivileged families! Click here to donate on our behalf!

More updates on that race later this week... for now, we gotta hit the road!

But to see what Team Crash is up to in events, you can always check out the recently renovated EVENTS section of this site!

Cuz Team Crash is out to win, and a seven nation army couldn't hold us back.

Tally-ho!
-Crash

Adventure: ORDA Rock Course

As promised, it's another Nemacolin adventure!

The Offroad Driving Academy at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort provides a unique opportunity for guests who have never let their tires touch dirt to learn the skills and enjoyment of offroading. The fleet of modified Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicons lets the instructors and guests have the best of the best as far as capable vehicles goes as they traverse miles of mountaintop trails at the resort featuring rocks, mud, inclines, and water crossings. ORDA trips start, however on the Rock Course, a test track including all the obstacles that challenge a Jeep's capabilities all in one course.

I was privileged enough to serve as a guide/instructor at times on the course, driving one of the mighty Rubicons. Hell I could even watch the Jeeps go by from my perch on the Ropes Course when I was guiding up there (view pictured below).

So of course it was only a matter of time before I brought my own Jeep over to put through its paces, and some of the ropes course girls took a few pics of my little rally for me.

Headed to the log crawls...

40 Degree Incline... 

 

40 Degree Decline...

60 Degree Incline!

40 Degree Side-Slope... way tougher and more intimidating than it looks!

Coming out of the Rock Garden...

 

Water fording trench...

The Jeep and myself in my sweet Nemacolin uniform...

The Jeep with some of the Adventure Center girls... what a trio!

My Jeep ZJ posing on some rocks with one of the Nemacolin Rubicons... good team, good team...

 

It may not have been the greatest challenge my Jeep has ever faced but it sure was nice to get it out on some trails and get a chance to team it up with the Rubicons I got to use at work. All a part of being an outdoor guide, kids. You know you love it!

If the Offroad Driving Academy interests you offroad novices, you can find out about making a trip of your own at the Nemacolin Woodlands Adventure Center.

Tally-ho!

-Crash