JOSEPH E. IBBERSON CONSERVATION AREA
I needed to shake off the cob webs of winter and get out of the city so I headed North for a short overnight. This was my first real outing since cracking my fibula in January so a short hike with an over night camp was just what I needed.
The Ibberson Conversation Area is at the base of the North Face of Peter's Mountain just North of Harrisburg, PA. It has a network of foot trails that cover the face nicely and one trail that intersects the Appalachian Trail. The Victoria Trail labeled as the toughest hike offered there starts on the East side of the area and crosses to the West boundary and crosses over the Appalachian Trail and continues down to PA Route 325.
I hiked The Victoria Trail up the mountain and turned West on the Appalachian Trail heading to the Peter's Mountain Shelter for the night. I hit the trail just before 6:00pm and was welcomed by a steep start as foreshadowing of what was to come. I saw many deer fleeing the sound of my footsteps. Squirrels and various birds were also all along the climb. The trail dips crossing The Rock Trail and it was somewhat muddy there from all the recent rains. After that dip it was nothing but, "elevator going up" from that point on. The trail covers the North Face East to West and turns South when it meets the AT. At that juncture I turned West and headed for the shelter. Gemma Hayes, "Back of my Hand" played in my head the whole way.
Like the rest of these 2 sections here North of Harrisburg, the AT is rather rocky. Immediately after entering the AT it descends briefly and then turns to ascend a steep "staircase-like" climb.
After about a mile or so I reached the shelter. There was a cub scout pack camped on the ridge and 3 guys camped East of the shelter. This was a busy place, 3 more guys came through looking for the spring. I camped just West of the shelter. As I was making camp more than 2 dozen vulchers floated above me on the thermals. I saw a Heron fly over as well. No other wild life came close to this human-infested area. Later I was awoken by that familiar sound of deer snorting in the night and it brought back memories of the first time I was startled by that sound.
It went down to about 35ºF and getting out of my bag this morning was tough. I got up made a fire and had coffee and granola before hitting the trail.
The Peter's Mountain shelter is quite nice, with 2 shelters. One is large and another small. The large building has a big ground floor with 2 lofts above.
Sun up was beautiful and heading back to Ibberson I was on the "up" side of the steep trail so it was an easy walk back to the Jeep.
On the way back I used The Whitetail Trail, The Pine Trail and ended up on The Old Sawmill Trail. This time I had my camera ready and was able to get a couple of shots of deer. Two deer in the distance quickly turned to four and eventually I counted six total bounding away from the human intruder. Heading through the woods, Old Crow Medicine Show - "Wagon Wheel" - went round and round in my brain.
I was happy to see my Jeep hadn't been towed. The morning sun on The Ibberson Conservation Area was beautiful with a lot of activity around the bird houses. Otherwise it was quiet. Of course I heard TMBG - "Bird House in Your Soul" in my head...
Peace,
Perry
