Hike 12 - Mountain Streams Trail - 8.0 miles

Yesterday, I hiked the Mountain Streams Trail, near Donegal, PA.  It is located in Laurel Summit State Park, quite close to the Donegal turnpike exit.  I ended up taking both dogs, as my conscience wouldn't permit me to leave Red at home.  Fortunately, I also discovered a solution for his annoying, constant barking in the car. (No, not earplugs.)  I used a solution of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and gave him a spray in the mouth each time he barked.  It only took three sprays, and he was quiet the whole way!  I was overjoyed to have found a solution to the problem that didn't hurt my dog and enabled him (and myself, especially) to enjoy our car ride together.    

So, with Red in the front seat and Cash sprawled out on the back seat, we set off for Donegal.  Following the author's directions to the trailhead was a fairly simple task this time.  The author does confuse the reader a little bit by referring to Tunnel Road as "0.3 miles west of Hidden Valley Ski Area and directly across from an active stone quarry."  Taking into consideration that most folks who drive to this area to attempt this hike will be coming from the west, it makes more sense to describe the distance from the turnpike entrance or some other landmark along Route 31.  So, if you get off the turnpike at Donegal, and proceed east on Route 31, the entrance to Tunnel Road is on the left just after a large stone quarry.    Drive down Tunnel road for about 1.5 miles, passing an unpaved road on the left.  The author lists the name of this road as "Sky View Road" or "Sky Road," however, the sign posted identifies it as "Auckerman Rd."  Start looking for a parking spot NOW.  There is no lot, just a few spaces carved out on the side of the road here and there.  The trailhead is on the left ahead, but you will finish your hike along Aukerman Rd.  So, unless you want to walk another half-mile back to your car once you finish the hike (like I did - unghh! I parked about 1500 feet further down Tunnel Road, past the trailhead! Didn't think that one through all the way!), park somewhere between Auckerman Rd and the trailhead.

Once we hit the trail, it began with an easy walk.  The first four miles of the trail were marked with red blazes, following an old jeep road.  I did not see the boulders that the author depicts in this chapter.  Perhaps they have since been removed.  Nonetheless, we hiked this first half of our journey with ease.  After a while, I took Cash off of his leash, so he could roam free.  At the halfway point, I hiked with both dogs off-leash.  It made it much easier to navigate the trouble ahead.

Once we reached Indian Creek, we stopped for a break and looked at the guide for the route ahead.  After proceeding to the left along an old railroad grade, we crossed a footbridge and began looking for Little Run Trail on the left.  Here's where it gets messy.  The author writes, "There are no signs and no markers on Little Run Trail, but it's an old woods road in good condition and easy to follow."  Not so.  The trail was supposed to begin in 0.3 miles, so we walked and walked and walked until we came to a gate.  Judging from the topography on the map, we overshot Little Run Trail by almost a half-mile.  So, we turned around and kept looking for the elusive, unmarked trail.  After trying several dead ends, I spotted a log blockade, and the remnants of what appeared to be a loosely strung trail heading to the southeast.  So, we started to make our way through the thick brush, climbing over hundreds of fallen trees.  Soon, we could hear the sound of flowing water ahead of us.  I knew that if we kept walking toward the stream, we could pick up the trail, since it eventually parallels the stream.  Soon enough, we made it!  We all let out a cry of joy when we were once again back onto a recognizable trail.

Following the Little Run Trail was fairly easy, since it ran straight to the southeast.  However, the stream is not  straight.  There are MANY stream crossings in this section.  Be careful not to get your feet wet, for you still have 2-3 miles to go!  At 5.8 miles, we turned right into a clearing.  This turn is not marked, but it is on the right and the sun shines right through an opening in the trees.  You can see the meadow from the trail.   From here we followed an old access road in a wide swath until we reached a dirt road.  This was Auckerman Rd. We just headed to the left and after a mile, we were back at Tunnel Rd.  Here is where we learned the hard way where to park for this trail!

Overall, I give this trail a 5/10.  The first half was easy, but there are no remarkable sights.  It was a pleasant walk in the woods, but the difficulty in finding the Little Run Trail made for some serious time lost getting oriented.  GPS would have come in handy.  However, if you can read a topographic map, you will be alright.  Thankfully, the author puts topographic trail maps in every chapter of the book.  Also, due to the many stream crossings and wet terrain, I would not recommend this hike in high-water - wait for dry weather.  Again, if you are looking for views, they are not found on this hike.  The babbling streams are calming, though.  There also appear to be several other trails in the Laurel Summit State Park.  Though they are not listed in 50 Hikes in Western Pennsylvania, I might go and explore them someday.  Someday.   Hike on.

Looks more like Thursday...

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I will likely not be going hiking today.  I have a work-related assignment that I need to complete before I can go out and enjoy the trails.  I also have some much-neglected housework to catch up on, as well.  Rest assured, however, that I will be out there hitting the trails tomorrow.  I'll let you all know where I'm going to be as soon as I decide.

More plans, can't wait for the action.

On Wednesday, I'll have the day off - a perfect chance to hike.  The weather has been hit-and-miss this past week, but I'm hoping for sunny skies.  Haven't decided where I'll go, but most likely back to the Laurel Highlands. There are still lots of trails in that region that I need to finish.  I am aiming for something in the 4-6 mile range.  We'll see.

As for the short, wildflower trails I mentioned in my last post, I'll be trekking those with my wife.  Maybe after she gets out of work one day this week...

UPDATE: I now have a tentative date to hike the Hickory Creek Trail (#32).  My Dad and youngest brother will be going backpacking with me overnight as we tackle this 11.6 mile trail.  By the end of next month, I'll be able to cross this one off my list as well.

Upcoming Hikes

I really haven't decided which hike to tackle next.  More than likely, I'll do some of the shorter ones to get them out of the way.  Best candidates at this point are the Wildflower Reserve in Raccoon Creek State Park and the Beechwood Nature Trails.  Both are somewhat nearby and both are reported to feature wildflowers that should be at peak blooming within the next week or two.  There is also a short hike in downtown Johnstown that I might attempt next week as well.  

50 Hikes in Western Pennsylvania

This is my project blueprint. Here is the link to buy it on amazon.com.

http://www.amazon.com/50-Hikes-Western-Pennsylvania-Highlands/dp/0881504734

Buy it, read it, follow along!

Hike 16 - New Florence Game Lands - 10.5 miles

Today I hiked the daunting 10.5 mile journey through the New Florence Game Lands. New Florence is a small village that lies a few miles south of Route 22,  in the  middle of, basically, nowhere. It does, however, encompass the entrance to one of many designated state game lands. According to the sign posted at the town's entrance, it was named after Florence (Firenze), the city in Italy. Not much else to say. Churches, volunteer fire department, Elks club. You get the picture.

My hike began at the entrance to the state game lands. The "parking area" was unremarkable and, despite the sign posted that read "parking area," there was no other indicator that one could park there. No actual lot, simply a large, globular dirt/gravel area that was actually part of another road. Oh well.

To begin, I walked up the gated road past the signs that strictly prohibited motor vehicles and around a bend where I could see some garages and storage buildings belonging to the state forest folks. The road was an unpaved, gravel road that doubles as a snowmobile trail in the winter. Horses are also permitted, though I saw no signs of recent horse activity (i.e. horse-poop). I found that the uneven gravel was difficult to walk on. Really tough on the ankles. If you attempt this hike without good, sturdy boots, you will undoubtedly find yourself very sorry and likely heading back to your car before too long.

The road suddenly became very sloped and continued to rise 1500 feet in elevation over the first 2.5 miles. I had to stop and rest more often than I'd like to admit. Steep climbs are rarely fun, especially when they are at the very beginning of a hike. Along the incline, I saw examples of different types of forest management, including deer fences, clear-cutting, terra-forming and re-forestation. Tom Thwaites' book was actually quite verbose on this hike with detailed descriptions of the different types of land-management activities presently going on in the state forest.

Upon reaching the top of the hill (elevation - 2700 feet), I was rewarded with my first and, sadly, only view of the valley below. I got some good photographs of it, but the view was marred by the large and un-ignorable nuclear power plant that also occupies the valley. Trudging onward, I came across about a dozen or so whitetail deer, crossing the trail ahead of me. Unfortunately, they were too quick for me to get a photo.

After walking along the ridge for a couple miles, I turned onto another road that doubles as a section of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. I had encountered a section of the LHHT in Hike 11, but about 40 miles south of where I now stood. The "trail" was still an uneven, gravel road. After five miles of this type of surface, my feet were really starting to ache. Luckily, the LHHT diverted into the woods at this point, and followed a narrow, winding path through some dense rhododendrons and mountain laurel, which has just started to bloom. The change was a welcome one, but after only a short mile, I was back on the same gravel road.

Now the "trail" had started to descend the mountain. Steeper in some parts than others, but a nightmare on my knees, nonetheless. At the bottom I crossed a bridge over a small creek and kept plugging along. Soon, I came to an old iron furnace. Apparently these things are scattered all over Pennsylvania. This has to be the fifth one I've seen in my travels. I also noticed some bizarre, red, foot-shaped shelf-type fungi growing on some trees nearby. I'll post a pic. If anyone can identify it, let me know.

After a seemingly endless trek, I arrived back at the storage buildings and soon I was back in my car. Overall, I give this hike a 6/10. Got to see some wildlife, but only one good view. A real shame for having to do all of that uphill work. Also, the trail is a true boot-buster. Expect sore knees and/or ankles. Trekking poles were a must for the climb, but more of a liability in the thick, narrow LHHT segment. To enjoy this hike you need lots of time (it took me about 4.25 hours) and excellent joint health. Or a horse. 

Hike on.

Hike 11 - Blue Hole Creek - April 15th, 2010 - 8.0 miles

This was a true solo hike. No dogs. No wife. Just me and the wilderness.


It took me a longer time to find the trailhead than I thought it would. The book's directions were fair, but Blue Hole Rd. is not labeled. There is no sign, just a nameless dirt road that extends northward off of Fall Run Rd near Scullton, PA. If you attempt this hike, the unlabeled dirt road is the one you want. Stay to the right. After two miles, the road ends at an embankment where a berm is blocking off the road. Parked here. I got my gear out and prepared for the journey ahead.

The first part of the hike on this sunny afternoon was along what used to be Blue Hole Rd. Now it is grassy and covered with fallen trees, purposely placed there to prevent vehicles (except maybe for tanks) from using it. I had to climb over piles of logs every 50 feet or so. This is a pretty remote location. Kept hearing gunshots, though. Also, there were numerous stream crossings. Thankfully, the water level was low and the stream was not difficult to cross. After passing the remains of a bridge, the trail eventually merges with a gravel road which I followed up to a paved road. Turning left, I soon came to a sign for Seven Springs. Apparently I had wandered onto the southern tip of their complex. Another left turn brought me to the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail, and the source of the gunshots I kept hearing. (Apparently, there is a clay-shooting range nearby.)

There was a water source at the point where I merged with the LHHT, and the trail continued left through the woods until I made a steep descent to the "bridge" on Blue Hole Creek. The bridge was merely a couple of 2x4's laid across a stream, which was really unnecessary due to the small size of the creek. After the bridge, it was back up the hill until I came to a side trail to the left that led to some A-frame shelters and restrooms. I passed through the campground and out onto an access road that led to Pletcher Rd. From there, I followed a gas line through lots of thorn bushes to a clearing where I turned left and came to a rocky road, which I followed downhill, yes, to the left. According to the map, the road makes a sharp right turn, doubling back on itself, back to the starting point of this hike. Due to my fatigue (I had really booked it and completed the hike in about 3 hours), I took a shortcut through the trees to the right and cut a little bit of distance off of my trek.

At last I came to a gate blocking the road, and I could see my car. Apparently this remote spot is popular with teenagers and the ilk, who use it to party undisturbed - due to the beer cans and cigarette butts that decorated this dead-end turnaround. All in all, it was a very nice hike. My first of the year in decent weather and my first in the Laurel Highlands.

Hike 37 - Harrison Hills Park - February 7th, 2010 - 2.5 miles

This hike was taken in the winter while the snow was still heavy on the ground. Despite the cold, It was a bright, clear and sunny day. Great weather for hiking and my first opportunity to try out my new pack and trekking poles. Even though it was a shorter hike, I carried my new GoLite Quest pack. It weighs about 3 lbs. and has many cool space and weight saving features. I was especially excited to try out the internal hydration system. So, with my dog, Cash, I set out on the trail. The trail was easy to access, and began at a large parking lot. Fairly straight forward, it ran along the cliffside, merging with the Rachel Carson Trail.

There were no switchbacks on the hills, however, so the trail just ran straight up and over any obstacle. This made me very grateful for my trekking poles. It made climbing the hills much easier and saved my knees a lot of anguish. After a while, the trail marked in the book came to an end, but we decided to keep going along the RCT for a while. We turned into the woods and meandered through backyards, across vacant lots and even out to the highway. Once we arrived at a small pond with a bench, it was time to turn around. We retraced our steps back along the trail and out to the car.

Hike 49 - Allegheny Gorge - March 14th, 2010 - 7.3 miles

This was our second family hike (me, my wife, and both dogs). It fared much better than the first. Despite Red's bad behavior in the car (he barks incessantly), we made it to the trailhead. Unfortunately, we stumbled around for a while until we figured out where to begin. The book was a little unclear and the map insert not very helpful for finding the trailhead. The parking lot for this hike was at the dead-end of a small unpaved road. From there, there are several trails or old access roads that spur off from the lot. This trail begins at the gated access road immediately to the right of the end of the unpaved road leading up to it. If you are parked in the lot looking at the State Game Lands sign, turn around and look behind you. See that gated road at the other side of the parking lot? That's where you want to be.

It starts as an easy walk along an old access road then veers off onto a wooded trail. The trail gets narrower and more dense as you approach one of several deer fences. We had to stop and figure this one out. The trail came to a 8 foot fence with a trap-door type gate in it. It is helpful to have another person with you on this hike, to hold the gate open for you while you step through the small opening. The fences are meant to keep the deer population from eating the young hemlock trees that are struggling to grow in a protected area of the forest. After the gate, we traveled down a steep hill that merged with a stream until we reached the old iron furnace. There is a nice spot for a picnic overlooking the furnace and a signpost which tells its history. From there, it was back up the hill and then off to the right, through the muddy forest to an overlook point where we could see the town of Kennerdell across the river.

After that, downhill to the four suspension bridges that were quite slippery due to the wet weather. Also at the bottom of the hill, we found lots of snow, still unmelted. Then back up to the access trail and our car. Fortunately, we had no injuries to our party except for one. Cash slipped off the end of one of the bridges and cut his toe. Not too bad, but a wound that needed seen by the vet, nonetheless. All in all, it was a good day hiking. By this time, we both had suitable packs, boots, jackets, clothing, etc., making our trip much more enjoyable than if we would have gone unprepared. I would like to do this hike again in the summer or fall, when the weather is drier. However, the bug had gotten me and I was determined to hike, come what may.

Hike 38 - McConnell's Mill State Park - September 14th 2009 - 3.2 miles

I took this hike solo with only one dog. Red and I drove up to the park and easily found the trailhead. After a brief course through light forest, we came to river where the trail turned to left and followed it down along a rocky, rocky, rocky path. It was as if some vengeful god had dumped truckload after truckload of rocks and boulders along the trail. By this time, I had acquired some good hiking boots, but no trekking poles. So, my ankles survived the treacherous terrain, but I did have a couple slips here and there. Not to mention that the weather was misty that day, making the rocks slippery. (Hence the aptly named town of Slippery Rock, not far from where we were.) This hike was only 3.2 miles, but it was slow going due to the rough terrain.

The trail led us along until we encountered McConnells Mill, which was closed at the time, but still offerred a much needed bench for resting. The trail continued past the mill and back into the forest. Some time later we reached Eckert Bridge, the halfway point. We crossed the bridge and turned right onto the Kildoo trail which is now part of the North Country Trail. The NCT runs from New York to North Dakota and will be over 4000 miles long when complete. Anyways, the Kildoo trail took us back up the river on the opposite side until we crossed a covered bridge that put us back at the mill. From this point we retraced our steps to the car.

Hike 44 - Raccoon Creek State Park - June 6th, 2009 - 8.3 miles

This was the first hike that I completed using the book, 50 Hikes in Western Pennsylvania. I took this hike with my wife, Jackie and our two dogs, Red and Cash. We started about 10 AM and headed into the woods. It was a warm June day and the forest was alive with birds, bugs and vegetation. It took us a while to find the trailhead, but once we got on track, everything progressed smoothly.

We made the entire loop, but three major drawbacks made this trip less than fun at times. First, we had no backpack at the time suitable for hiking. So, an old Jansport had to make do. With no hipbelt, the shoulder strain from 2 gallons of water (for us and dogs) was a little much. Also, the dogs had to be leashed, so they were constantly vying for pole position along the narrow trail. Lastly, and probably most importantly, I should not have picked such a long hike for our first outing of this type.

 My hiking career had been on hiatus for eight years or so, and my wife had little experience as well. Out of breath and sadly out of shape, we returned to our car and nearly collapsed.