The Golden Eagle Trail:  The GET, a 10 mile loop northwest of Williamsport, PA, makes a perfect day hike.  Waterfalls, vistas, rushing streams, challenging hills:  it has everything that makes a perfect day for me when weather, time constraints, or less-ambitious (i.e. no-back-pack-carrying) companions rule out an over-nighter.  I've hiked it several items in different seasons.  A free map is available from the PA Bureau of Forestry, 423 E. Central Avenue, South Williamsport, PA  17701. (717-327-3450)
The Susquehannock Trail System:  An 85 mile loop connecting old CCC fire trails, logging roads, and logging railroad grades, the STS inspired my first solo-backpacking experience in 200 after my son Shawn left for basic training in the United States Air Force.  Beginning at the forestry building on Route 6 at the top of Denton Hill between Galeton and Coudersport, my ideal trip takes me to the Cherry Springs Fire Tower for the first night's Campsite (14 miles) and to Ole Bull State Park (where showers are available), another 12.5 miles, the second day.  The third day's adventure goes through Spook Hollow and down Morgan Hollow for a 10.5 mile trek to my favorite spot of all, the campsite at Young Woman's Creek.  Day four takes me to Cross Fork, where I'm ready for an ice cream cone from Kinney's Store and can restock any supplies (water, juice) and enjoy running water (read:  flush toilets!) and picnic tables by crossing the road to the forestry offices. On day five the Twin Sisters Trail takes the hiker to the Hammersly Wilds, where on a hot summer day I've immersed myself in the Hammersly Pool, a COLD, refreshing treat on a hot day.  (Nope, you don't even wanna try it if it's not a really hot day!)  At the end of an eleven-mile day, I cam at Duffy's campsite at mile mark 61.  The sixth day takes me twelve miles further, to Prouty Lick Road near Rock Ridge Road.  From there the last day is just eleven miles, through Patterson Park and Splash Dam Hollow to wrap up the trip at Denton Hill again on day seven. $13 sent to the Susquehannock Trail Club, P.O. Box 643, Coudersport, PA  16915, will get you maps and a guide book that are absolutely worth the money if you're making the trip.  I live only ten miles from the start of the trail and would love to host you in my cabin the night before and the night after your hike!  Feel free to call me to make arrangements:  814-848-7944.  Maybe I'll even have time to hike a day or two with you!
	The Old Loggers Path:  The OLP, as 27.3 mile loop northwest of Williamsport, PA, is an easy two-and a-half day hike that I backpacked in 2003.  Though it has some great vistas and beautiful streams, it is short enough for a holiday weekend and ideal for the first-time back-packer who is still figuring out just what to pack -- or, as is usually the case for first -time back-packers, what not to pack. When you're overloaded, you might still be able to finish a short trail without jettisoning half your gear!  A free map is available from the same address listed above for the G.E.T.
The Black Forest Trail System:  George and I backpacked a third of this 42.2 mile loop south of Wellsboro, PA, last Spring, and we would have finished last summer if I hadn't gone into a different, rigorous training program to get ready for Survivor 10.  I've hiked other sections of the trail on weekend hikes, but finishing the whole trail is high priority this spring.  Contact the Bureau of Forestry listed under Gold Eagle Trail for current price for the guidebook and map set for the BFT.
	The Loyalsock Trail:  Unlike any of the previously-mentioned trails, the Loyalsock is a linear instead of loop, so it's a good idea to have a hiking partner and make plans to leave a car at each end of the 60 mile trail.  My five-day plan takes me ten miles the first day to a stream with a camp site, twelve miles the second day to Ogdonia Creek, thirteen miles the third day to Rode Falls, and eleven miles on day four to World's End State Park.  The last day is a heftier fourteen miles, but splitting into two days and spending a night camping at the "hay-stacks" --a popular creek site with hay-stack like boulders in the water-- makes the trip more pleasurable if you have a sixth day to enjoy life the way it was meant to be! I backpacked this trail in 2002 and absolutely loved the waterfalls, I definitely want to do it again.  Contact the Williamsport Alpine Club, P.O. Box 501 Williamsport, PA  17703, for the current price for a guidebook.  The re-painted tin-can lids with mile markers and yellow LT (Loyalsock Trail) are unique.
Future Plans
The Bucktail Path (linear, 33 miles) and Quehanna Trail (loop, 74 miles) are high on my want to do list.  Watch for updates!  I have worked on sections of these trail (and many others) on trail-care work weekends with the Keystone Trails Association (KTA - Keeping Trails Alive!)
	A good way to "accidentally" meet me would be to go to KTA trail care weekends any summer.  I go to as many as I possibly can.  Check the KTA website for information.  This will be my fourth summers as a camp cook for one of the volunteer trail care weeks.  This year we'll be based out of Morris, PA, working on the northeast extension of the Mid-State Trail, June 15-19.
George and I planned a honeymoon last summer to Radiant Lake in Algonquin National Park in Canada.  We postponed it a year because of my Philadelphia interview for Survivor, but we have rescheduled it for a wild time this summer!