Sat November 21, 2009
Despite frigid winter weather, seven Allegheny students set out on a hiking adventure to McConnellâ??s Mill State Park on Sunday, February 25, 2007. Instead of staying inside on this dreary day, the students scaled the side of a frozen waterfall, settling down to eat lunch behind the falls, and exploring surrounding rock formations after all hunger was satiated. While hiking back, the group ventured out onto the rocks lining the icy creek and decided to engage in a snow and ice ball fight. Overall, everyone enjoyed the fresh air and will never forget their icy, stick burning, 18-point turning adventure at McConnellâ??s Mill.
On Wednesday, August 30, 2006, a group of over twenty freshmen and three Outing Club leaders took a short hike to the Greendale Ravine. The hike was planned to introduce new students to the many amazing outdoor recreation opportunities that exist only a short walk from campus. Everyone had a great time meeting new people with similar interests in the outdoors and swapping stories about their favorite outdoor pastimes. After stopping to explore the pristine stream that runs through the ravine, the group played a short introduction game and hiked back to campus. Everyone enjoyed the break from the rapid pace of orientation to enjoy the natural beauty surrounding campus.
On Wednesday, August 30, 2006, the Outing Club led an orientation hike for incoming freshmen. After nearly forty people showed up, we split into groups and went our separate ways exploring the wilderness found around campus. About twenty-five people went in two groups to the Robertson Sports Complex. The first group took a series of trails into the back of the complex, where they took the time to meet one another, and then ended their day with a rousing game of Frisbee. The second group was a little more adventurous, as they took a previously un-traveled trail in the back of the complex, through the woods, over a stream, and past a man who appeared to be living in a tepee in the woods. As both groups returned to campus, they looked back on beautiful day well spent, knowing that the 80 degree temperatures and cloudless skies would fade to fall, but the first memories of campus would last forever!
On Saturday, April 1, 2006, the Outing Club expected to go backpacking in the Allegheny National Forest, but ended up on a day hike at McConnellâ??s Mill State Park. The group hiked around the beautiful park for a few hours, stopping at a picnic table along the trail, for lunch. The spring air was a refreshing break from spring studying.