Quebec Run Wild Area, Pennsylvania (Nov 14, 2015)
Nov 15, 2015 9:57:25 GMT -5
Post by GaliWalker on Nov 15, 2015 9:57:25 GMT -5
Nov 14, 2015: Quebec Run Wild Area
Route (starting from the west trailhead): Hess Trail - Miller Trail - Mill Run Trail - Tebolt Trail
Hiking photography stats: 11.7mi, 1800ft gain, 5.75hrs
I had originally wanted to visit the Quebec Run Wild Area in prime fall foliage conditions, but ended up doing other hikes. A "better late than never" philosophy had me scheduling a quick ramble in this beautiful part of Forbes State Forest. Yes, all the leaves were off the trees but they still provided loads of fun hiking: swishing my way through the crisp, wall-to-wall piles of leaves was awesome!
It was 6:30am when I reached an overcast west trailhead and began my hike. The temperature was 33°F, but felt much colder because of the stiff breeze that was whistling through the area. Initially I made good progress along the Hess Trail, heading northwards, because conditions were too dull to take pictures. However, as things brightened I was soon rolling around in the leaves, camera out and clicking away.
The Hess Trail dropped down steadily to Quebec Run. After the crossing it was steadily uphill, all the way to the north trailhead and the intersection with the Miller Trail. I followed this one southwards and downhill, through groves of hemlocks and an understory of yet more crisp leaves. Eventually I joined the Mill Run Trail, which paralleled Quebec Run. This was the prettiest part of the hike, as I meandered my way through beautiful, peaceful hemlock groves.
At the end of the Mill Run Trail a short 0.2mi section of the West Road trail took me up the Tebolt Trail. I followed this one all the way to the west trailhead, swishing through leaves, past the headwaters of Tebolt Run, hemlock groves and rhododendron tunnels.
Route (starting from the west trailhead): Hess Trail - Miller Trail - Mill Run Trail - Tebolt Trail
Hiking photography stats: 11.7mi, 1800ft gain, 5.75hrs
I had originally wanted to visit the Quebec Run Wild Area in prime fall foliage conditions, but ended up doing other hikes. A "better late than never" philosophy had me scheduling a quick ramble in this beautiful part of Forbes State Forest. Yes, all the leaves were off the trees but they still provided loads of fun hiking: swishing my way through the crisp, wall-to-wall piles of leaves was awesome!
It was 6:30am when I reached an overcast west trailhead and began my hike. The temperature was 33°F, but felt much colder because of the stiff breeze that was whistling through the area. Initially I made good progress along the Hess Trail, heading northwards, because conditions were too dull to take pictures. However, as things brightened I was soon rolling around in the leaves, camera out and clicking away.
The Hess Trail dropped down steadily to Quebec Run. After the crossing it was steadily uphill, all the way to the north trailhead and the intersection with the Miller Trail. I followed this one southwards and downhill, through groves of hemlocks and an understory of yet more crisp leaves. Eventually I joined the Mill Run Trail, which paralleled Quebec Run. This was the prettiest part of the hike, as I meandered my way through beautiful, peaceful hemlock groves.
At the end of the Mill Run Trail a short 0.2mi section of the West Road trail took me up the Tebolt Trail. I followed this one all the way to the west trailhead, swishing through leaves, past the headwaters of Tebolt Run, hemlock groves and rhododendron tunnels.
