Rocksylvania-Berry Crunch

How a Terrible Time Made Us Blue(berry)

Everybody talks about Rocksylvania; they fear it and rightfully so. Thru-hikers dread each day for the rocky profile that they’ll inevitably face.

Knife Edge scramble.

It Can’t be That Bad, Right?

Southern Pennsylvania was very pleasant. There were farmers’ fields, gentle slopes, and a continuation of Maryland and Northern Virginia terrain that kept you feeling confident.

Then it began to change. Sections of trail that were previously sparsely populated with small, smooth pebbles grew more and more spiteful toward our feet. At first you noticed the rocks were a little more pointed, more densely packed into the trail. Before you knew it, there were angular rock fields that jutted upward into your aching feet.

No flat earth in sight.

The Real Trail Blues

Virginia blues were nonexistent for most of our tramily. We enjoyed the changing scenery, the friendly hiker towns, and the more gently varied terrain. However, Pennsylvania left many of us worn down mentally by the continuous sore feet. Luckily, the benefit of a 12-person tramily is that there are plenty of opportunities to support one another through the good and bad. In turn, they support you when you need it most.

The Tramily Less Clementine, Plume, and Rubber Ducky

Then came the blueberries. It was the morning of July 5; our feet were tender from the rocky terrain of northern PA, and we had Lehigh Gap looming over us. Bubbles noticed a small patch of blueberries and, although I tried to advise her we had a long day ahead, she was already picking a handful of the ripe, plump, beauties.

Prewashed delights.

If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them

I dropped my pack to grab a couple of berries. We noticed Nightingale a few feet ahead also picking berries with a burgeoning crop in a ziplock. We approached the bush he was working on and were shocked by the sheer quantity of fruit.

Nightingale harvesting berries.

Plume was also busily harvesting the largest wild blueberries I’ve ever seen. She was giggling in delight as some berries didn’t even make it to her pot. They were fresh from a night of rain and the fruit shined in the misty morning light to us like beacons of hope.

Bubbles and Plume struggling to contain their excitement.

Leave No Trace Vs Trail Fruit

Banter and Lady Di joined us as we all worked as if we were dependent on these berries. Although the idea of picking fruit along the trail may not be the most Leave No Trace principle, I believe the ATC allows it as long as you are only picking for personal consumption. Any hit of juice in a state as dry as PA is worth the time investment.

Banter foraging for berries like a professional.

Bonus Berries

We smashed the climb over Lehigh Gap and had ample berries to snack on at the summit. Then, as I walked along the ridge, giggling along to replays of My Dad Wrote A Porno, I came across a plethora of black raspberries that begged to be added to my berry bag.

Orange Blaze conquering the staggering climb over Lehigh Gap.

This day was wonderful, though I may have gotten the runs from day-old fermented berries, but that’s a different story for a different day…

Black raspberries were a second treat.

Berries have become a pleasant treat on our journey through the humid and hot summer. The trail may be hard at every turn, but there’s always something to help you through.

Affiliate Disclosure

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

Comments 2

  • Zorian : Jul 21st

    This is an information about the windows mobile ringtone settings are be able with the change ringtone and all methods are applied with the method to change ringtone in windows 10 mobile phone ringtone.

    Reply
  • Allen : Jan 26th

    We smashed the climb over Lehigh Gap and had ample berries to snack on at the summit. Then, as I walked along the ridge, giggling along to replays of My Dad Wrote A Porno, I came across a plethora of black raspberries that begged to be added to my berry bag.

    Reply

What Do You Think?