Weigh in, February 12, 2014

Flat. Still at 312 this week. I've dropped nine pounds over the past month, so I'm not going to sweat having a flat week. I'm confident I'll show a further drop next time, and I'll be below 300 in April. That's the short range goal.

The long range goal? Well, 240 fit me very well back in 2007 and 2008. It will look even better on me now that my legs are straight and I'm taller. My rough timetable is to reach 240 in 2015. Sooner would be OK with me, but 2015 is doable. Meanwhile, I'm working towards 299 by the end of April.

Poole Forge, February 2014

After the Money Rocks hike we stopped at Poole Forge, one of the many iron forges preserved in the Keystone State. I'm not sure I'd call this a "hike" as much as a "walk." The distance under our feet was at most a half mile. Still, it was walking in the snow, planting our feet carefully on ice, and keeping warm as we walked around the historic site. Poole Forge Bridge, built in 1859, is a highlight of this little park, and it looked lovely amid the snow.

For more information on visiting Poole Forge, visit their website http://www.historicpooleforge.org/

Money Rocks hike, February 2014

There are pros and cons to any hike, and for many people a winter hike has cons outweighing the pros. However, one big benefit to a winter hike is that views normally obstructed by foliage are clear. So on finding myself in the Lancaster area with my friend Chris Saturday afternoon we headed over to Money Rocks County Park.

On my previous visit I described the park as "not worth the effort" and wrote I'd never go back. Well, famous last words....and I'm glad I revisited. In the cold and snow and ice the park was transformed. Ice glistened on every tree, the ground was white, and most of the graffiti on the rocks was obscured. And the view was better. Still limited by tree growth, but you could see why guidebooks praised it. Since neither of us brought crampons or other traction devices for our boots we didn't climb up on the rocks themselves. We limited our hike to a mile and turned around at the point Chris is standing in the photo.

Still, a mile is a mile, and it was more work than normal as we had to wade through snow to get to the overlooks. It was a great short hike, and we both felt we deserved our hot chocolate afterward.

For more information on Money Rocks County Park, visit their website at http://web.co.lancaster.pa.us/288/Money-Rocks-County-Park