Exploring outside the concrete jungle

The city is great for food, arts, people and all that. I don’t think I could live… The city is great for food, arts, people and all that. I don’t think I could live someplace that wasn’t urban. But it all seems too much after a while. The concrete and exhaust fumes surround sidewalks that are covered with old gum and cigarette butts and dotted with thin pathetic trees and sporadic patches of mute green grass to give the illusion of nature. Last night I couldn’t count more than two dozen stars in the night sky.

As I realized that, I felt trapped.

The city has sapped something from me. Diving for a Frisbee on the torn and muddy Cathedral lawn, less than a hundred yards from traffic and the faint – yet slightly musical – sound of sirens in the background shouldn’t be my idea of, “Getting outside to take advantage of a nice day.”

Where did that come from? How did I get to this point, so distanced from nature and all the things I used to love to do?

To be hiking to a rock face with a few friends and maybe a half-dozen other climbers, as the only people for miles, with sandwiches packed for lunch, canteens filled from the stream and actual clean, fresh air. That’s life. That’s what I miss. And that’s what I hope to get back during the next few weeks as spring actually arrives and stops teasing us like a drunk slut that has to take her friend home at 11.

But I’m lucky. I’ve grown up here in Western Pennsylvania and know my way around. The other day an out-of-town friend looked at me puzzled and asked, “Where do you go climbing around here?” and I realized that a lot of people don’t know the basic ropes – get it – ropes? – of where to go to get out of the city around here.

Of course, any Yahoo search for “Western Pennsylvania climbing” will yield as much information as anyone could need. But you’re probably lazy, and to stop here would make a pretty short column. So I press on.

Western Pennsylvania actually has a lot to offer as far as the outdoors go, trails rivers, and yes, even a mountain range.

The most popular, touristy, and unfortunately, the place with the most to offer around these parts is Ohiopyle in Southern Pennsylvania. They’ve got camping, hiking, climbing, some decent mountain bike trails and a virtual monopoly on all the rafting for the Youghiogheny River. It’s great for people who want a nice safe place to camp and party all night, and the rafting is probably the best find in the area. But like I said, the whole place is kind of commercial.

Cooper’s Rock in West Virginia is less than two hours away, slightly crowded at times, and easily the best place for top roping around. McConnell’s Mill is a nice place to tie-in, and about an hour drive. Beam’s Rock and the rest of the laurel ridge area is about two hours away and absolutely spectacular for climbing or hiking. But, while there are others, that’s enough listing for now. Directions for any of these places can be found online in less than five minutes.

So, out-of-towners, there you go. Release yourself from the city’s vice grip of death! OK, maybe that was a little dramatic. But sometimes it feels that way. Life just seems simpler in the outdoors.

Will Minton signed up for the outdoors club forever ago, but it never sent him anything. Its members, and anyone else who wishes to, can reach him now at WMinton@pittnews.com.