It was January 1st 2010, a new year! while most where fast asleep at 7am with pending hangovers, I chose a different path of celebration for the new year. with pack strapped on, and ice axe hanging, my friend John and I hopped in my truck and headed the 25 snow-covered miles to Ricketts Glen state park where we would spend our new years day enjoying the brisk temperatures and gorgeous ice formations that the Ricketts Glen falls trail has to offer in the winter.
As driving usually can be in the northeastern winter, it was a bit of a slow go thanks to the fresh snowfall we received the night before and my billowing excitement wasn’t helping any to say the least. After what seemed like an eternity, we pulled into the Ricketts Glen lot just off of PA state rte 118 and began to suit up. Our gear set included waterproof jackets, Gore-tex boots, leg gaiters, Crampons, Ice axes among other pieces of equipment. Upon suiting up we made our way to the approach trail, crossed over kitchen creek and began our trek up to the falls trail.
The hike up the approach trail is somewhat deceiving, it is a fairly easy trek in contrast to what’s to come. There isn’t a lot out of the ordinary to see on the first part of the approach trail other than some nice woodland scenery, but once you get to the fork the fun begins.
After about a 25 minute walk we made it to the fork in the approach trail. The wooden sign declared: upper trail – moderate, lower trail – difficult. John and I Looked at each other with a mischievous grin and proceeded down the lower trail. the lower trail dropped us right along side kitchen creek, and most of this trail passed over top unstable footing and ice shelves. This is where our days hike truly began. As we arrived at a particularly outreaching ice shelf that John walked out onto to test its strength, as you would imagine the ice cracked and John Promptly stepped back.
After maneuvering the tight unstable lower trail we joined back up with the moderate trail and the falls trail began.
The first waterfall we had the pleasure encountering was the 16 foot Murray Reynolds, a gushing little crevasse carved in the rock. We proceeded up the trail and passed by Sheldon Reynolds, 36′ and Harrison Wright, 27′ before arriving at waters meet where the path splits yet again to form a loop. We decided after a short water break to head up the right leg. Along the way up the right leg we experienced some particularly icy steps, but we were also greeted by some beautiful ice formations as well. Some notable falls along the right leg are: B. Reynolds, 40′, Ozone, 60′, and F.L. Ricketts, 38′.
After about 2 hours of walking be reached the top of the first leg. We stopped for a water break and to un-don our crampons for the flat walk down the highland trail. A little ways down the highland trail we arrived at Midway Crevasse, a large walk-through boulder where we stopped and decided to make lunch. We set down our packs and John fired up his Snowpeak canister stove so we could boil water. On the menu today was Beef stroganoff for John, and Instant Ramen lunch for myself. We sat for a good 25 minutes enjoying our food and sharing stories on a beautiful winter day in the northeast. After cleaning up, gathering our trash, and checking out gear we set out for the left leg.
We arrived at the left leg at around 1pm where we put our crampons back on and started down the icy trail. Beyond Mohawk, 37′, Oneida, 13′ and Cayuga, 11′ we descended the frozen steps leading to Ganoga, the largest waterfall on the trail at approximately 94 feet. Around halfway down there is a trail that leads behind Ganoga, so we decided to follow it and have a look at the frozen beauty and treachery that was there. At the bottom of Ganoga, the mist coming off the falls can be felt, and after a leg pumping decent it felt quite good. Across the creek from where the trail reaches the bottom of the Fall  there is a a decent sized ice fall on a 45 degree slope, and of course we had to go over and check it out.
We traversed rocks all the way across kitchen creek until we reached the the other side. the ice chunks laying here were as big as large appliances in some cases and the ice hanging from the cliff above seemed unstable, which was evident from the previously mentioned chunks. The 45 degree slope required a little front pointing with our crampons and an ice axe to prevent the 25 foot tumble into the creek below.
Following out little detour, we met back up with the trail and and made our way the rest of the way down to where the trails me. We ran to a couple down here who weren’t equipped for winter travel, and when saw our gear they inquired about the conditions above us. They decided to head back out due to there lack of equipment.
On our way back down the approach trail a light snow moved in, bring a nice end to what i thought was a great day on the trail and a wonderful introduction to 2010. I highly urge anyone with a set of crampons and an ice axe to check out the falls trail, it is by no means a big mountain trek, but does offer some technical walking and the gear is definitely needed.
For More information on Ricketts Glen State Park follow this Link: Ricketts Glen State Park DCNR
For More photos from this hike check out the Flickr Photo Set
-Patrick
As my favorite winter hike in PA., this is both accurate and entertaining. Keep me posted!