Take Me to the River....

We did a little urban bushwacking today. One of the benefits of our new house is its proximity to Frick Park, with an expansive trail system. We set out today with one mission in mind....get to the river. Nine Mile Run flows through the valley, and we felt certain that if we could follow this creek, we would make it to the Monongahala, eventually. Unfortunately the park ends over by the Irish Cultural Center underneath the parkway, and the nice, wide, gravel packed trails also cease. But we were determined.

And so, for the afternoon, we were ten years old again, scrambling on a narrow, side-hill deer trail, and hopping across the stream on rocks. We saw some fish, and a lot of interesting trash.

Eventually we did make it to the river, but were forced up out of the creek bed onto a trail along a slag heap, which led to Browns Hill Road, and over across the Hi Level Bridge. We then attempted to do some Christmas shopping at the Waterfront, which is not really set up for pedestrians, by the way. Plus, we looked a bit worse for the wear, all muddy and rosy-cheeked. I even had some burrs stuck in my hair. Not sure how many miles we walked, but I definitely broke in my new hiking shoes.