Heart's Content Tom's Run Loop 1-13-2010

The four of us rode up to Heart's Content in the Allegheny National Forest for a winter hike on 1-13-2010. We parked next to the trail head and took a look at the maps on the edge of the parking lot to help us decide which trail to take. Since the snow was about a foot deep and only one of us had snowshoes we decided to take the 3.5 mile Tom's Run loop. This trail, like all of the trails at heart's content, doubles as a cross-country skiing trail. We weren't the first to take this loop since last time it snowed so it was easy to find the start. We headed down the branch that enters the large stand of red pines first. I was told that this stand of evenly planted evergreens is called the echo forest for its symmetry. We pretty much stuck to the trail except to check out a few large boulder outcroppings that are hard to see and a tough hike to get to in the summer months. We did find a porcupine den that showed some cool signs of activities. I think we got some pictures and I will post them if any of them turned out. As we were ending the trip my boots were starting to get to me. My hiking boots took a turn for the worst this summer so I had to use my heavy winter boots. The extra weight took a toll on my legs and reminded me how important equipment is in the winter. The hike that normally would have just be the beginning of a workout turned out to be all I could handle comfortably.