CAMPING AGAIN

We chose the Allegheny National Forest for camping this time. With adjoining Cook Forest State Park and Kinzua Bride State Park in PA, and the Allegany State Park in NY, this vast stretch of wilderness primarily consists of new growth forests which grew back after logging and oil companies flattened the land at the turn of the century. However, old growth forests survive in pockets - like the Forest Cathedral in Cook Forest, which are as old as William Penn - hence the name given by locals to this huge tract of woods - Penn's Woods.

The drive up

Clarion River 

Pennsylvania roads 

A minor setback

The car breaks down 

Cook State Forest and National Natural Landmark

The children's fishing pond 

The fern overhang on the Clarion River 

On higher ground on the trail 

On the Cook Forest trails 

The Clarion River 

Fern overhang 

Paddy at the hanging bridge 

At the hanging bridge 

Ambarish at the hanging bridge 

A forest clearing 

Here we come 

The Eastern Hemlock 

The wooden centipede  

A hemlock nursery grove with ferns at its foot. This is not the poisonous hemlock, buga Tsuga, a species which has an odour reminiscent of the hemlock. 

Dipanjan and Ambarish on the bridge 

Som on the bridge 

Bridge again 

More of the Clarion River 

The log bridge 

Trufflish 

Across the river and into the trees 

Of fallen trees, and fern groves