We took a spur of the moment trip to Douthat
State Park
It took us just over two hours to get there and it was after
dark when we rolled in. We were surprised to see how much snow remained on the
ground, since it was all melted at home, but then again Douthat is in the
Alleghenies and we should have known.
No worries, though, as I had nagged everyone and made sure
they packed plenty of layers and cold weather gear. We found our way to cabin 19 and were pleasantly
surprised.
We’d been told there were three twins, so we knew we were
set for beds, but we hadn’t been able to figure out how that worked. Turns out
there is a small alcove room behind the fireplace with the third twin, perfect
for J, and adorable. She was very pleased.
We carried all the gear in and got settled for a relaxing evening with our books before turning in.
Saturday morning dawned cold, clear, sunny, and gorgeous. I
fixed a big breakfast—eggs, bacon, biscuits, and the sausage gravy I’d made at
home for a treat for Dave. We had a big day of hiking planned so I felt good
about loading everyone up with protein and calories. I packed our usual bagel
sandwiches and fruit for lunch, filled the hydration packs, and triple-checked
that everyone had at least one extra warm layer packed before we headed out.
We drove to the Visitor’s Center, hoping it would be open
and we could get some guidance on trail choices given the ground conditions. It
was and we had a long chat with the specialist on duty, then did some shopping
in the gift shop. I bought an aluminum water bottle, a hat for Dave, and a 500
piece jigsaw puzzle for later.
As we returned to the car we noticed a slightly older couple
parked next to us. They were getting ready for a hike with full backpacking
gear loaded. I commented and they told us they were “in training”. I didn’t
have to ask to know it was for the AT. The woman told us they had already
section hiked a lot of it, including Katahdin, and were planning a thru-hike
starting in March. I was very impressed and wished them a good hike. Then we
took off for the parking area we’d been told to look for.
Unfortunately, that parking area was closed and locked, so
we headed to the next one and from there tried to find our way to the
trailhead. There was another hiker there looking as well, and we worked
together to figure out we’d have to climb down a steep snow covered hill from
the play area and then walk up the road to the trail.
Once there we thanked him and wished him a good hike. He was
a little sketchy, though, and I didn’t really like the way he kept hanging back
and waiting for us even when I’d make excuses to stand there a bit longer. I
took pictures and adjusted my pack several times. I knew once he got going on
ahead he would lose us quickly, and eventually he took off. I was glad to have
Ollie with us as he is always a bit imposing to strangers. My radar
is always so much more sensitive with J is with me!
The trail was completely covered in snow and unfortunately
poorly marked. The blazes were few and far apart. With the snow cover, the only
way to tell where the trail went was to follow the footsteps of others who’d
been over it recently and hope they weren’t all lost somewhere on the mountain.
At one point we climbed a very steep hill with great slipping, sliding, and
difficulty, only to find at the top that we were rejoining an actual trail.
Ooops!
We continued on to the stream to find less snow and more ice
covered the rocks. Dave was less than patient with me and J until I pointed out that
our boots—the same model—had practically zero tread on the bottoms compared to
him. I wished fervently that I’d bought the YakTrax I’d been looking at the
weekend before.
It was really exhausting
to be catching yourself constantly and desperately searching for footing with
every step.
Eventually we reached the waterfall and were rewarded with a trickle. It was lovely, though, and clearly beautiful in the spring. We rested on the stone bench there for a moment, then decided to continue on up the path to one of the mountain overlooks.
Fortunately, this path was exposed to the sun
and clear of snow. The footing was pine needles and it was a blissful break
from the snow. We made good time, enjoyed the view, and headed back down.
We decided to go looking for an open store, wanting some hot
chocolate after all that time in the snow, and found the private campground at
the bottom of the mountain had a little Mom and Pop place that sold ice cream
cones too. We all got a cone, and a cup of vanilla for Ollie, and ate it as we
drove back to cabin 19.
We spent a quiet afternoon relaxing, reading, and working in
various combinations on the jigsaw puzzle, each of us taking a break when we
got frustrated. Together, we got the whole thing done in one evening while we
enjoyed the meatballs I’d left cooking in the crockpot.
We packed out quickly the next morning after oatmeal and
drove home in time for J to work in the afternoon. We enjoyed Douthat very much
and look forward to visiting again in the spring or summer.
Park Rating:
Camping Cabin was great, didn't see the campground
Bathhouses Didn't see them
Water 8 (nice lake, reminiscent of Hungry Mother)
Hiking 10
Riding 10 Equestrian parking and dedicated horse trails
Other 10 Nice Visitor Center, also has a store and a restaurant as well as a snack bar
Solitude Low; great in winter but really crowded in summer
Park Rating:
Camping Cabin was great, didn't see the campground
Bathhouses Didn't see them
Water 8 (nice lake, reminiscent of Hungry Mother)
Hiking 10
Riding 10 Equestrian parking and dedicated horse trails
Other 10 Nice Visitor Center, also has a store and a restaurant as well as a snack bar
Solitude Low; great in winter but really crowded in summer
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