Valley Forge National Park
Today we hiked ten miles in Valley Forge National Park. We took a big loop around the park, up and over Mount Joy and then Mount Misery, along a stream, past the encampments, through the Arch, and back to the Visitor Center. Valley Forge has enough hills for a good cardio workout, and it's a beautiful park with lots of trees, wooded areas, open fields, streams, and of course, history. It was a warm day, and when hiking up the hills and then later in the direct sun we really felt the heat! It was a great day to be outside enjoying late Spring. Later, we ate at an Indian buffet, quickly making up all those calories we burned during our hiking workout!
No visit to Valley Forge is complete without a trip to Trader Joe's, where I purchased Meyer Lemon Cookie Thins, Harvest Grain Blend of Israeli Style Couscous, and Happy Trekking Mix, which is happy because it contains chocolate!
Labels: Hiking
11 Comments:
Ooooh! Any Geocaches in the area? Maybe not because it's a National Park... I got my 75th cache while in Colorado this week for work! I managed to get out and be a tourist after office hours and it made the trip so much better. :)
I read (a long time ago) that geocaches aren't allowed in National Parks, so they have "natural geocaches", for example, follow these instructions and find a weird rock formation, or an unusual artifact, etc..... Wow! 75 caches, that's great! Glad you got to see some of Colorado, I have never been out there but I am sure it's a beautiful area and a fantastic trip!
Great combo of natural beauty and history. I imagine that the soldiers camped there so long ago would have been amazed to think that anyone could enjoy the place. Ah, chocolate - from the Greek "chocolos" meaning "happy times!" I can't wait to be able to hike 10 miles again, or even 2 pain free ones! Art
Hi Art, I hope you're out on the trail again soon! Yes, Valley Forge is a beautiful combination of history and nature. I would love to spend some time in Gettysburg also, for the history of the memory of the tremendous sacrifices made there, and also for the beauty of the park...
My great-grandfather was the sculptor for two of the monuments on the Gettysburg battlefield - the 11th Pennsylvania and the 114th Pennsylvania. I love going there and it is so peaceful, despite all of the carnage that took place, and the sacrifice. I've not been in a few years, but it is always moving. Art
Hi Art, that's amazing, I will have to look for the monuments when I finally make a trip there. I have a direct ancestor on my Mom's side who was a medic at Gettysburg.
Wow, the terrible things that your ancestor must have seen as a medic there.
The 11th PA monument is near the Doubleday Inn, and includes the regimental dog, Sallie. It is the only monument on the battlefield with both a dog and a soldier. It is touching because her forehead is all shiny from people petting her. My great grandma (the sculptor's wife) was a girl in Gettysburg during the battle, and her brother fought there. The sculptor also had a brother in the battle, fighting in the 114th PA, which was maybe why my great grandpa got the commission for that one. He also scupted the bust for the regimental commander (Col. Collis) of the 114th PA for his tomb in the Gettysburg National Cemetary. It is speculation, but I am guessing my great grandma would have heard Lincoln's address there. It is hard to imagine anyone in the town not turning out for that. Too bad that didn't have video back then!
I am hoping to get back up there myself again in the not too distant future.
Enjoy your visit when you are able to go, Anne. Art
Hi Art,
What an incredible legacy. I don't have any immediate plans to go to Gettysburg but when I get there I'll make sure to try to find these statues. It's amazing that, historically speaking, these events were not that long ago. Look how the world has changed since then! It gives me hope that our present day global difficulties can be overcome also...
That is a very good point, Anne. I hope so, too. Enjoy the day! Art
Hi, we're from Colorado taking a trip east. We need to decide between visiting Gettysburg or Valley Forge. Which would you recommend?
Hi Cece, I think you'll find a lot more to do in Gettysburg. It's been a long time since I've been there, but I think it is a much larger park with much more to explore. Gettysburg is Civil War, and Valley Forge is Revolutionary War of course, so if you have a preference for history of one of those time periods it will influence you. Good luck with the choice and welcome to the East coast!
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