I finally got in my first day-hike of the year. Because I was visiting PA anyway I chose a loop hike in the Quehanna Wild area. I hiked the Quehanna Trail itself (of course the featured trail in the Quehanna Wild area) in two 3 day trips awhile ago. This was my first re-visit since then.
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| Kiosk at Parking Area (Quehanna Highway) |
The trail is called the Moyer Run Loop trail on the map, But, on the ground, at the main parking area on Quehanna Highway the sign says "Black Powder Trail" as seen in the photo below.
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| Trailhead for Moyer Loop Trail |
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The weather was almost perfect hiking weather, blue sky, low humidity, reasonable temperature. Most of the trail was on double track type foot-way (its a multi-use trail which means its open to mountain bikes, horses and hikers). I did see horseshoe prints, but did not see any hikers or horses on the trail. After the trail met the stream called Little Moyer Run the area between the stream and the trail looked like an inviting camping spot. And after a few minutes I did see a pitched tent and hanging food bag, but no campers. Soon after the trail crossed Upper Three Runs on a bridge associated with a nearby hunting camp.
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| Upper Three Runs |
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Before I forget, the trail intersects the main Quehanna Trail in two places. These two intersections were on my first days hike on the first half of the Quehanna Trail backpacking trip and it brought back memories of that hike. Anyway, right around mid-day I heard a rustling to my right, at first I thought it was a deer running away. But then, I realized there were no hoof noises so I looked, and there was a bear running away further into the woods (sorry, no picture). After a pleasant lunch in the woods I resumed the hike and just where the trail hit a narrow dirt road there was the sign below.
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| Sign next to trail |
Just to the right and under the trees was the remains of the cabin.
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| Ruins of Fire Tower Cabin |
From here to the end the trail was mostly on dirt roads except for a stretch in the woods between Three Runs road and Reservoir road. This section had a lot of small blowdown (which I picked up; just doing my part to keep the trails nice). After a total of 4 1/2 hours of hiking I ended up back at my truck. All in all, a very nice hike.
