Golden Eagle Trail, north-central Pennsylvania (Nov 2, 2014)
Nov 3, 2014 10:27:19 GMT -5
Post by GaliWalker on Nov 3, 2014 10:27:19 GMT -5
Nov 2, 2014: Golden Eagle Trail
Hoping to tuck in some late fall color photography, I made a fast trip over to north-central Pennsylvania's 'Grand Canyon' region. I made good time on the long 4hr drive, despite having to dodge some light snow showers.
I started my hike around 6:00am, on a cold and windy morning. Since it was too dark for photography, I motored along to the first and best vista of the hike. Raven's Horn, located near the top of a stiff climb, is a rocky outcrop the overlooks the Pine Creek gorge. It was a dreary, colorless day, with a low cloud deck, but the views were still lovely. I took time to savor these, as light snow fell around me.
From Raven's Horn the trail descended steeply down a narrow ridge. Fallen leaves overlaid everything. So what if I didn't get to see these up on the trees? Swishing through a psychedelic carpet of colors was pretty special.
Self 'portrait'
My first real disappointment of the day came when I dropped down into the Wolf Run valley. On my one previous trip, made a few years ago in early spring, Wolf Run was the highlight of the hike. The pretty little cascades and waterfalls had been fantastic. Unfortunately, this time the stream was almost bone dry. The gorge was still scenic, with all the fallen leaves, but not as good as on my previous trip.
Bone dry Wolf Run
I followed Wolf Run upstream to a pretty grove of giant hemlocks and white pines, and then climbed out of the gorge on a gentle slope. I vended my way through mountain laurel thickets, which sported a light dusting of snow, and then up to a couple of fine vistas. The first one overlooked the fields of Beulahland, while the second overlooked the Bonnell Run valley, which I was to drop into next.
The sun had finally come out, but it was still pretty chilly in the windy conditions. My descent to the car, via the Bonnell Run valley was pretty quick, despite the slippery conditions on the steeper parts; all those pretty leaves are hard to walk on, especially when they hide a minefield of loose rock and cobbles.
Stats:
- Distance: 9.1mi
- Elevation gain: 2,220ft
- Hiking/photography time: 6hrs
Hoping to tuck in some late fall color photography, I made a fast trip over to north-central Pennsylvania's 'Grand Canyon' region. I made good time on the long 4hr drive, despite having to dodge some light snow showers.
I started my hike around 6:00am, on a cold and windy morning. Since it was too dark for photography, I motored along to the first and best vista of the hike. Raven's Horn, located near the top of a stiff climb, is a rocky outcrop the overlooks the Pine Creek gorge. It was a dreary, colorless day, with a low cloud deck, but the views were still lovely. I took time to savor these, as light snow fell around me.
From Raven's Horn the trail descended steeply down a narrow ridge. Fallen leaves overlaid everything. So what if I didn't get to see these up on the trees? Swishing through a psychedelic carpet of colors was pretty special.
Self 'portrait'
My first real disappointment of the day came when I dropped down into the Wolf Run valley. On my one previous trip, made a few years ago in early spring, Wolf Run was the highlight of the hike. The pretty little cascades and waterfalls had been fantastic. Unfortunately, this time the stream was almost bone dry. The gorge was still scenic, with all the fallen leaves, but not as good as on my previous trip.
Bone dry Wolf Run
I followed Wolf Run upstream to a pretty grove of giant hemlocks and white pines, and then climbed out of the gorge on a gentle slope. I vended my way through mountain laurel thickets, which sported a light dusting of snow, and then up to a couple of fine vistas. The first one overlooked the fields of Beulahland, while the second overlooked the Bonnell Run valley, which I was to drop into next.
The sun had finally come out, but it was still pretty chilly in the windy conditions. My descent to the car, via the Bonnell Run valley was pretty quick, despite the slippery conditions on the steeper parts; all those pretty leaves are hard to walk on, especially when they hide a minefield of loose rock and cobbles.
Stats:
- Distance: 9.1mi
- Elevation gain: 2,220ft
- Hiking/photography time: 6hrs
