Classic Hike-Quehanna Southeast Backpack, October 2013
Nov 2, 2023 9:45:27 GMT -5
Post by anfhiker on Nov 2, 2023 9:45:27 GMT -5
Taking the thread by Va3pinner seriously, while understanding that I don't have much "new" material to add from the Mid Atlantic states, I figured that I would do some classic hiking trip reporting from before I was a regular contributor to this site.
I was really bit by the hiking bug sometime in 2012 or early 2013. I had done some beating the brush while trout fishing and some friends and I had done some day hikes, but as time went on it became clear that I was more into it than they were, and I began to set out to do longer solo day hikes. I did some overnight backpacking in the ANF that summer, and having perused this site for recommendations, I decided to do some further out backpacking in the fall of 2013. I'm sure I'll get around to recapping those other trips as I get a chance, but this one is one of my alltime favorites and I found the photos recently, so why not take a spin down memory lane?
I began this hike on a Saturday in late October...which is unusual in itself for me, because as time went on I became much more of a regular on the trails for overnight hikes of Sunday into Monday. My schedule at work, such as it was, afforded me a lot of Mondays off so I regularly used those days to beat the crowds and enjoy the trails. especially in the autumn. This Saturday, I parked my car in at the Hoover Farm wildlife viewing area, and set off on the clockwise loop of the southeast section of the Quehanna. I had spent some time in the area hiking earlier in the summer and began to realize how special it truly is. I set off down the red blazed trail across the Quehanna Highway and made good time to my first junction, which was the Wykoff Trail. As many know, Quehanna tends to get to autumn faster than most anywhere else in PA, so the leaves were well gone by this time.
I was quickly down the trail and to the Big Spring Draft Trail, which I would follow for several miles. This is one of my favorite trails in the Quehanna, with laurel/rhododendron alleys and a beautiful trout stream to follow. I was pleased with the scenery, and hoped to eventually come back to fish (10 years later and I still haven't fished this stream!).
I moved along to the top of the "big spring" (which is one of the better springs you'll find), and onto the Old Sinnemahoning Path. At this stage, the path wasn't quite in the shape it is today, and I had a little trouble following the trail. Yet I made good time and was moving back to the Quehanna Trail before long. It was here that I passed a hunter who was waiting on a nice buck to pass by...but alas, as I walked through it was clear he wasn't going to see much. The weather was cooling and it felt like it would be a cold one tonight. I passed a vista on the QT before I got to Three Runs.
Three Runs is the site of an old fire tower, which still has a sign for the site and the remnants of the foundation. It's not far off the beaten path and can be driven to. The meadow near the old tower site is fascinating, and is loaded with blueberries during the peak of the summer season. It wouldn't be surprising to see a bruin or two here if you caught the right time of season.
DSC01102
I didn't linger for too long, as it was getting later in the day and October evenings can be a bit unforgiving. I wasn't sure exactly where I'd stop, but I did see a camp site on the Mid Atlantics Hike map below Fisher Rocks, which was around where I intended to camp. I moved along down Upper Three Runs's drainage and up the tiring climb to the top of the ridge. This would be one of the tougher climbs I'd done in 2013, and with my pack pretty loaded, I was a little tired by the time I made it to the top. Thankfully, the terrain was more forgiving as I passed some trails to the right that would have taken me on a cutoff. I was across the Quehanna Highway and making great time as I descended into the headwaters of Cole Run below Fisher Rocks. It was here that I'd make camp for the night. I quickly set up my tent, then went about gathering what firewood I could in the meadow. Before long, I had a crackling fire. I would spend one of my most memorable evenings in the Wilds, enjoying some food by the fire and just basking in the wonder of God's creation. I had a small radio that I listened to some music, then managed to find the Penn St game (boo) and then the Cardinals World Series game (the last one they won that year) on the radio. I nestled into my bed in a little bowl, using my winter sleeping bag for the first time ever. I drifted off to sleep as the snow flakes were fluttering around the tent and I...well, I was snug as a bug. It remains the best night of sleep I've ever gotten on the trail.
I woke up the next morning, refreshed from 9 hours of slumber. It was cold...cold, cold! I figured it was down to around 28 overnight as the water I had was pretty chilled despite being in my tent. I'd need my rain pants today to keep me warm. I broke camp and was up over Fisher Rocks and to following the rolling terrain, making excellent time. The snow was coming down intermittently, like salt from a clogged up shaker. I passed one of the neatest campsites on the trail, overlooking the Mosquito Creek valley. I wasn't sad that I had stopped short last night, given my amazing sleep. I made it to Mosquito Creek and as the bridge was nowhere to be found, had to do a little fording the river. It wasn't too bad as the water level was lower, as I recollect it. I've had worse. Soon I was up over the hill and to my favorite landmark on the QT....Wildcat Rock.
A bad day to be a wildcat! I moved along and and was at the junction for the QT and East Cross Connector quickly. I took the trail less traveled and was at Mosquito Creek again quickly. I was able to follow the Lost Run Road for a little bit before the trail veers into Meeker Run's valley. The creek was beautiful and I thought that I needed to fish this one too some day (I did in 2022, and it was lovely!).
I skipped going toward Crawford Vista (I never visited it for 6 more years, and that was a mistake!) and continued up the ECC. The stream is full of pockets and drop pools, and is photogenic in its own right. I made a right onto the Meeker Trail, passing by what would become a campsite in the years hence. I made good time up the hill and across the plateau, and was to my car by mid afternoon. The temps had moderated to the low 40s and I had shed the rain pants, but long johns I'd worn to bed stayed on. All in all, a successful hike and my first overnight adventure in Quehanna. It certainly whet my appetite for those to come.
I was really bit by the hiking bug sometime in 2012 or early 2013. I had done some beating the brush while trout fishing and some friends and I had done some day hikes, but as time went on it became clear that I was more into it than they were, and I began to set out to do longer solo day hikes. I did some overnight backpacking in the ANF that summer, and having perused this site for recommendations, I decided to do some further out backpacking in the fall of 2013. I'm sure I'll get around to recapping those other trips as I get a chance, but this one is one of my alltime favorites and I found the photos recently, so why not take a spin down memory lane?
I began this hike on a Saturday in late October...which is unusual in itself for me, because as time went on I became much more of a regular on the trails for overnight hikes of Sunday into Monday. My schedule at work, such as it was, afforded me a lot of Mondays off so I regularly used those days to beat the crowds and enjoy the trails. especially in the autumn. This Saturday, I parked my car in at the Hoover Farm wildlife viewing area, and set off on the clockwise loop of the southeast section of the Quehanna. I had spent some time in the area hiking earlier in the summer and began to realize how special it truly is. I set off down the red blazed trail across the Quehanna Highway and made good time to my first junction, which was the Wykoff Trail. As many know, Quehanna tends to get to autumn faster than most anywhere else in PA, so the leaves were well gone by this time.
I was quickly down the trail and to the Big Spring Draft Trail, which I would follow for several miles. This is one of my favorite trails in the Quehanna, with laurel/rhododendron alleys and a beautiful trout stream to follow. I was pleased with the scenery, and hoped to eventually come back to fish (10 years later and I still haven't fished this stream!).
I moved along to the top of the "big spring" (which is one of the better springs you'll find), and onto the Old Sinnemahoning Path. At this stage, the path wasn't quite in the shape it is today, and I had a little trouble following the trail. Yet I made good time and was moving back to the Quehanna Trail before long. It was here that I passed a hunter who was waiting on a nice buck to pass by...but alas, as I walked through it was clear he wasn't going to see much. The weather was cooling and it felt like it would be a cold one tonight. I passed a vista on the QT before I got to Three Runs.
Three Runs is the site of an old fire tower, which still has a sign for the site and the remnants of the foundation. It's not far off the beaten path and can be driven to. The meadow near the old tower site is fascinating, and is loaded with blueberries during the peak of the summer season. It wouldn't be surprising to see a bruin or two here if you caught the right time of season.
DSC01102 I didn't linger for too long, as it was getting later in the day and October evenings can be a bit unforgiving. I wasn't sure exactly where I'd stop, but I did see a camp site on the Mid Atlantics Hike map below Fisher Rocks, which was around where I intended to camp. I moved along down Upper Three Runs's drainage and up the tiring climb to the top of the ridge. This would be one of the tougher climbs I'd done in 2013, and with my pack pretty loaded, I was a little tired by the time I made it to the top. Thankfully, the terrain was more forgiving as I passed some trails to the right that would have taken me on a cutoff. I was across the Quehanna Highway and making great time as I descended into the headwaters of Cole Run below Fisher Rocks. It was here that I'd make camp for the night. I quickly set up my tent, then went about gathering what firewood I could in the meadow. Before long, I had a crackling fire. I would spend one of my most memorable evenings in the Wilds, enjoying some food by the fire and just basking in the wonder of God's creation. I had a small radio that I listened to some music, then managed to find the Penn St game (boo) and then the Cardinals World Series game (the last one they won that year) on the radio. I nestled into my bed in a little bowl, using my winter sleeping bag for the first time ever. I drifted off to sleep as the snow flakes were fluttering around the tent and I...well, I was snug as a bug. It remains the best night of sleep I've ever gotten on the trail.
I woke up the next morning, refreshed from 9 hours of slumber. It was cold...cold, cold! I figured it was down to around 28 overnight as the water I had was pretty chilled despite being in my tent. I'd need my rain pants today to keep me warm. I broke camp and was up over Fisher Rocks and to following the rolling terrain, making excellent time. The snow was coming down intermittently, like salt from a clogged up shaker. I passed one of the neatest campsites on the trail, overlooking the Mosquito Creek valley. I wasn't sad that I had stopped short last night, given my amazing sleep. I made it to Mosquito Creek and as the bridge was nowhere to be found, had to do a little fording the river. It wasn't too bad as the water level was lower, as I recollect it. I've had worse. Soon I was up over the hill and to my favorite landmark on the QT....Wildcat Rock.
A bad day to be a wildcat! I moved along and and was at the junction for the QT and East Cross Connector quickly. I took the trail less traveled and was at Mosquito Creek again quickly. I was able to follow the Lost Run Road for a little bit before the trail veers into Meeker Run's valley. The creek was beautiful and I thought that I needed to fish this one too some day (I did in 2022, and it was lovely!).
I skipped going toward Crawford Vista (I never visited it for 6 more years, and that was a mistake!) and continued up the ECC. The stream is full of pockets and drop pools, and is photogenic in its own right. I made a right onto the Meeker Trail, passing by what would become a campsite in the years hence. I made good time up the hill and across the plateau, and was to my car by mid afternoon. The temps had moderated to the low 40s and I had shed the rain pants, but long johns I'd worn to bed stayed on. All in all, a successful hike and my first overnight adventure in Quehanna. It certainly whet my appetite for those to come.
