Larry A. Smail's Blog

I was enroute to paint the mural mentioned in last entry. My usual way to travel to this area is to cut across very rural roads through the Quehanna Wild Area. This early morning was to not be any different.

The roads do not have any winter maintenance, but that didn’t deter the jeep. We began the travel! Most of the roads were passable with fresh snow over existing ice, but the snow gave traction. However, there were a few areas where I hoped to not meet anybody else doing the same as me.

I entered the Caledonia Pike where a little maintenance had occurred. I would see one vehicle on the short section I traveled, and it was an eighteen-wheeler. What the heck! I exited and would drive along the Medix Run. No problems.

Upon reaching my destination at Driftwood, Pennsylvania, I smiled for the entire back of the jeep was white with snow.

While staying in Driftwood and the traveling about later I would see two flocks of turkeys, two deer, squirrels, a groundhog walking on frozen snow and about thirty elk. The first day at the Driftwood Senior Center I would watch seven elk feeding and bedding for over two hours. the second evening I watched three elk wandering around eventually crossing the railroad track.

The time arrived to leave the center for the mural was complete, so I travel around looking for photo opportunities. I would park wherever I could and walk around to take photos of the mountains and creek…beautiful country.

I traveled up and along Dent’s Run until the road was nothing but ice. I elected to turn around rather than hance a mishap.