Solo Hiking the Black Forest Trail - Hammock Camping Trip - 3 Days , 42 Miles

Join me for 3 days of Hiking, Hammock Camping & Backpacking on Pennsylvania’s Black Forest Trail. GPS Data at http://www.sintax77.com

For this adventure, I’ll be doing a 3 day, 2 night solo backpacking trip in Pennsylvania’s Tiadaghton State Forest. The Black Forest Trail is a 42 – 43 mile loop (depending on where you park and start from) with a total elevation gain of 8,550′.

For an easier read, check out my full blog post here: http://www.sintax77.com/solo-hiking-t...

GPS Data for this trip and many others can be found on my website's Trip Data Page. Includes full track data for each day, and way-points for campsites used / observed along the loop.

I also highly recommend the Black Forest Trail Guidebook and Map.
https://amzn.to/2MXpUSQ
I found the mile by mile information provided and overall quality to be great and very helpful.

For a detailed look at all of the gear used on this backpacking trip, check out my 9 lb ‘Stealth Backpacking Gear List’ post / video.    • Stealth Backpacking Gear List - Go Ca...  

Trailhead Used:

Pine Creek Rail Trail Access Area behind Wolfe’s General Store – 41°28’15.6″N 77°30’05.8″W
Trailhead is on the other side of the auto bridge, behind the Hotel Manor inn / pub. Parking immediately at the trailhead is for day use only. No overnight parking is permitted in the hotel’s parking lot by the actual trailhead.

Day 1:

Park at the Slate Run Rail Trail parking lot
Head over the auto bridge and make a right.
Begin the loop at the Black Forest Trailhead, located in the lot behind Hotel Manor.
Head Counter Clockwise on the Black Forest Trail
Setup camp at an unestablished spot about a quarter mile past the crossing of Dyer Branch
Day 1 Mileage: 16 miles
Day 1 Gross Elevation Gain: 2,989′



Day 2:

Continue Counter-Clockwise on the Black Forest Trail
Setup camp at an establish spot along Naval Run creek.
Day 2 Mileage: 15 miles
Day 2 Gross Elevation Gain: 3,182′


Day 3:

Continue Counter-Clockwise in the Black Forest Trail
Return to the Slate Run Rail Trail Recreation Area Parking Lot
Day 3 Mileage: 13
Day 3 Gross Elevation Gain: 2,953′


Backpacking Gear List for this Trip:


Backpack:

GORUCK GR1 Backpack, 21L https://www.goruck.com/gr1/

Shelter:

Hammock Gear Dyneema Fiber Hex Tarp (Cuben Fiber) with Zing-It guy lines

http://www.hammockgear.com/dyneema-cu...
Tent Spikes, Titanium http://amzn.to/2tHPGEB

Sleep System:

Dutchware Gear Half-Wit Hammock https://dutchwaregear.com/half-wit-ha...
Dutchware Whoopie Hooks with Kevlar Tree Straps https://dutchwaregear.com/product/who...

complete-suspension/
Hammock Gear Burrow 40 Top Quilt http://www.hammockgear.com/burrow-40/
Hammock Gear Phoenix 30 Under Quilt http://www.hammockgear.com/phoenix-30/

Storage:

Bear Bag Line (25′ guyline and small carabiner) https://amzn.to/2EhrwkS
Bear Bag – 13 gal trash bag
Zip-lock Bag – Sandwich
Zip-lock Bag – Gallon

Cooking & Eating:

Toaks 450ml Titanium Cup https://amzn.to/2GLboZV
Cookset Stuff Sack
Esbit Folding Stove https://amzn.to/2IIzB55
Matches – Waterproof https://amzn.to/2q3neIB
Sea to Summit Alpha Light Spork, Long http://amzn.to/2uyl5GJ
Spoon, Backup, Disposable
Lighter, Disposable

Water Treatment & Storage:

American Red Cross Steripen Ultralight UV Water Purifier https://amzn.to/2qQ139e
Forty Below Expedition Water Bottle, 1L https://www.40below.com/products_deta...
Water Bottle Holder / Insulator

Tools:

Compass, Brunton Classic https://amzn.to/2EhOoR3
Kershaw Emerson CQC-5K Folding Pocket Knife https://amzn.to/2s7rdoz

First Aid / Fire Starting:

First Aid Kit
(Adhesive bandages, 1 gauze bandage, superglue, neosporin in
straw tube, tealight wax candle, 6 doses benedryl, 10 doses
ibuprofen, spare water bottle cap, needle & thread for mending
gear)
Sunscreen – 30 SPF in 10ml bottle
Wetfire Fire Starter Tablets https://amzn.to/2IMTxaQ or DIY firestarter
Light My Fire Mini Fire Steel http://amzn.to/2vYlBgG
Picardin Lotion Bug Repellent https://amzn.to/2s2SwRE

Clothing (Packed, not worn. For spare, sleeping):

Underwear – Synthetic (1 Pair)
Shirt, Long Sleeve -Lt Wgt
Hat, Beanie – Lt Wgt Fleece
Wool Socks – Lt Wgt (1 pair)

Lighting:

Headlamp, Olight H05 Headlamp https://amzn.to/2H8zD6g

Toiletries:

Toilet Paper
Toiletry Kit
Wet Wipes
Hand Sanitizer