Another Quehanna Wild Day-hike
As my second day-hike of the year I chose the Quehanna Wild area in Pennsylvania again. Because of the various loop possibilities and previous familiarity, it seemed like a good choice. And like last year, I picked the area in the eastern part of the Wild (there are many more trails in that area compared to the western area). I started out at the small parking area one mile in from the Quehanna Highway on what is now referred to as "Lost Run Road", but on maps is labeled "Reactor Road" [see an earlier blog entry for an explanation of the significance of that name]. Last year I crossed at this parking area on a many trail 'loopish' hike. This year I started from the parking area and headed north.
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| Starting point for hike |
When I reached the junction with the Meeker trail I turned left onto it and took it until it reached anther trail junction with the Quehanna Eastern Cross-Connector trail. See photos below.
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| Junction with Meeker Trail |
From that junction I continued on the Dry Marsh trail until it reached the Crawford Vista trail. As you may be able to tell, the Dry Marsh trail used to be called something else, probably to entice more hikers that might not like mosquitoes.
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| Junction with Dry Marsh Trail |
At this junction I went left (south) and caught up to an older couple out for a walk (they were only carrying a little water and some snacks, no packs of any kind). I was behind them for a few minutes before they realized I was there. The fellow had a pistol in a holster that made me feel more nervous than safe. I wanted to ask him what he intended to shoot with it, as any bear he might take a shot at with would be angrier and more likely to be aggressive than anything else. Side note - any time I have seen a black bear in the woods they have been more scared of me than I of them and they climb trees way better than I do. Any way, when the couple did speak to me (the wife did most of the talking) they were looking for the Bridge Trail. I offered them my map to look at (the trail names have mostly changed since I backpacked the Quehanna Trail so I did not recognize the name without the map). They declined as they had a similar map. Instead of stopping at the nearby vista they continued on the trail which linked back up with the cross-connector further on. I stayed at the vista to have an early lunch as it seemed unlikely I would find a nicer spot for it. If you notice the photo below it shows who the vista is named after. It also gives the dates of his life, one of which has personal significance. Anyway, this was a nice vista and a nice spot for my break.
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| The vista at Crawford's Vista |
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Anyway, after lunch I decided to find the Bridge Trail myself. Looking at my map I saw where the other couple had gone wrong, I (and they) needed to follow the Crawford Vista Trail west (i.e., the couple needed to turn right at the junction with the Dry Marsh Trail instead of left). I proceeded that way (downhill) and not too much longer reached the Bridge trail (obviously named for the bridge that crosses Mosquito Creek (see below).
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| The Bridge on the Bridge Trail |
To the right (north) the trail follows the Mosquito Creek and a decent photo op.
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| Mosquito Creek |
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| A little waterfall on the creek |
The trail headed north for a while and then turned more easterly to reach the Cross-Connector Trail, passing this open area, possibly caused by the tornado of May 31 1985 (exactly 31 years earlier).
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| Open Area from Bridge Trail |
Eventually I got to the Cross-Connector Trail (again!), see below trail junction sign post,
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| Other side of signpost |
Once back on the Cross-Connector Trail I went east towards its junction with the PSOC Trail. A side note here, on my Quehanna Trail hikes I used the Cross-Connector Trail as part of the two loops I used to complete the trail in two separate 3 day backpack trips. Which meant I had already been on the Cross-Connector going in each direction and this would make a third (!) time of hiking on it. When I reached the junction with the PSOC (for Penn State Outing Club) Link trail I followed it. Its a short trail roughly paralleling the Meeker Trail. It eventually reached the Red Run Trail I had started on. I turned right to head back they way I came in.
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| Junction with PSOC Link Trail |
When I eventually reached my vehicle at the parking area I decided I had enough time to take a short walk on the Bellefonte Trail. I headed south on the trail which initially was in the woods, but came to an open area, seen below.
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| A panoramic view from the Bellefonte Trail |
After walking through this open area the trail went uphill a bit and then back into the woods. There was also the below remains of a structure (I forget now what it was originally), but like so many other places trails go by, it was obviously a busier place once upon a time than now.
When I reached a bit of a woods road I decided to turn around as I needed to finish for the day on account of my long drive back.
A few other pictures are below.
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| Trail register mailbox |
