The Valley of the Elk

Friday and Saturday, my husband and I took advantage of beautiful, crisp weather, and backpacked into the Quehanna Wild Area.

Friday night, while sitting on a rock overlooking the creek that winds through the valley, we were treated to a gorgeous full moon rise through the trees.

Overnight Friday night, we heard coyotes howling somewhere close by. We suspect they may have a den in the big rocky outcrops further down the valley. We have often heard them but seldom seen them.

It got quite cold overnight, with a low of 23 degrees F, or -5 C. I had brought a fleece bag to put inside my sleeping bag, but my feet were still cold overnight.

Saturday morning dawned crisp and sunny. There was initially frost in the open fields, but it disappeared as soon as the sun hit it. It vanished as quickly and silently as the four bull elk that my husband saw appear and disappear like ghosts in this valley on another frosty morning, in mid-October. (The little pines in the middle of the scene are where the elk crossed the creek.)

This photo depicts the valley itself, and the meandering stream. On the right are pines - and to the far right outside the frame of this photo is our campsite among them. To the left of the creek are the tamaracks up on the hill.

The golden brown vegetation, typical of the Quehanna Wild Area, in some ways reminds me of the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in West Virginia.

We enjoyed a morning in the sun, and shortly after noon - completely out of food and drink - we packed up our gear for the walk out. Sad to leave the wilderness, but looking forward to heading home for cold drinks and a hot meal (and a warm bed!), we left the Valley of the Elk.