Setting off from Pennsylvania
The Appalachian Trail stretches some 2100 plus miles from Georgia to Maine, offering some great hiking opportunities even in the winter. Now, I know the thought of camping in the cold winter months is not for everyone, but if you can hike or snowshoe in a few miles, there is some great outdoor adventure in a PATC primitive cabin. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club has connected people to the outdoors since 1927. The PATC maintains 45 cabins along the Appalachian trail. Sometimes, the best way to dust off the winter cabin fever is to venture off into the wild and spend a few nights in a real cabin. So that is just what we did.
Down the Unbeaten Path
We set off to the fine town of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. After a long car ride and a last-minute stop in town to load up on supplies, we headed out into the Michaux State Forest. The trek began on an old logging road. Packs were filled to the brim with warm gear and hearty food. We also brought a sled to help with the extra gear we brought for our four days in the woods. After about an hour of hiking, we came to a junction where the logging trail intersects with the Appalachian Trail; there lies Milesburn Cabin.
The Milesburn Cabin
This primitive cabin can sleep up to 10 individuals. The cabin is heated with a wood stove, and the temp was dropping, so the first order of business was getting the stove lit. The stove top was perfect for cooking food and boiling water. There is no running water or electricity in this cabin. Directly in front of the cabin runs a stream where we filter our water, and there are several candles and lanterns available. After cooking up a delicious dinner of spaghetti and Italian sausage, we sat in front of the stove, singing old Irish songs that I had learned from my grandpa many years before.
Building Memories in the Snow
The next morning, we awoke to find a light snow falling. We cooked up some breakfast on our camp stove on the front porch of the cabin. We sat there and enjoyed our warm hot cocoa and coffee in the serene silence of the winter woods. Our day was filled with snowshoeing on the Appalachian trail and processing more firewood for our cabin stove. There were no electronic devices or TV screens to distract us. Our day was filled with playing cards, reading books, singing songs, processing firewood, and making delicious food for all our meals. We were forced to enjoy each other’s company, something that has become all too uncommon these days.
Less is More
Staying at this cabin requires a certain amount of work, but through this work, the bond of our family grew a little stronger. It makes you appreciate the things we take for granted, like running water and electricity. It takes you back to simpler times, and it brings you and your loved ones ever closer. So why not pick a nice primitive cabin close to your neck of the woods and get out there with your family?
Get out there and shake off that cabin fever, pun intended.
