Old Loggers Path (PA) Apr 19-20

“planning a trip on this great trail, it's in the "trips" section, everyone invited. this trail is awesome!”

“I was planning on doing this trail in the spring I just received a map of it, so barring a major snow storm I should be able to make it.”

“Too early to say I'm definite, so I put myself down as a maybe.. which pretty much means 99% that I'm a yes.”

“I should be able to make it too.”

“I'm there!”

“I have a somewhat general question about PA that I was wondering, does the area get black flys?”

“Are there any native "brookies" in those mountain streams? Trip sounds intriguing.”

“Yes, PA does have black flies, but they are generally only bad for a few weeks in April.
Pleasant Stream is an excellent wild trout stream on the OLP. I've fly fished it many times and had some of the best fishing on that creek. I've fished Rock Run too, it is put and take fishing mostly stocked by the state. It gets pretty heavy fishing pressure from what I've heard. I don't take so I don't find the fishing as good there, although it's beautiful to hike next to the creek. Rock run doesn't have the the capacity to maintain a good wild trout population like Pleasant stream does. Pleasant stream has more aquatic life because the bottom has more gravel. More aquatic life means more food for fish and the more fish the creek can support. Pleasant stream has some nice hatches too, but the fish aren't picky and I caught loads of them on a Royal coachman in size 12 last June.”

“Black flies are bad usually bad from early May to mid May. Last year's end of April Black Forest Trail hike was around April 28 and you guys said that the flies were brutal. Things were early due to an early warm weather spell and lots of rain after a winter drought.”

“Your right Lyndy, it was early last year. It depends on what area of PA you are hiking too. While the black flies were bad in Central PA at that time, they didn't get bad around here for a few weeks later. In this area they are only bad for about 2 or 3 weeks and then taper off. Same with Central PA. It's pretty much a springtime hatch.”

“We had planned to do the BFT last May but moved it back to April to avoid the black flies. However, unseasonal warm temps brought them out and we got hammered with them.

After that trip I bought one of those net hat things but haven't had to use it yet.”

“We may need headnets this year in April because of all the snow and wet weather we are getting. I'm going to be more prepared this time. Last time I didn't expect them and got eaten alive.”

“I'm wondering if Artex's question is really about the danger about black flies or perhaps a crock pot/jerky/deydrater possibility.”

“Just a note, the 20th is Easter.”

“The 20th is Easter? Shoot, that's a problem for me then. Easter dinner with family is something I can't miss.”

“Good catch, Must Hike. No can do, me either.”

“Pennsy has family? Wow, you think that you know a guy .....

How about the weekend before that one? Not that I think that I can hike 27 miles in a day and a half, but I could join for the campsite and my own puny number of miles. Maybe there can be the Lottsa Miles group and the Puny Miles group.”

“ok, then it's april 12-13.”

“Lyndy - let me clear this up. Family as in mother, brothers, sister, neices, and nephews. NO WIFE, NO KIDS. I sure don't want anyone to get a wrong impression. ;o)”

“Lyndy I may be hiking with you then only LOL”

“Okay Mapleleaf!

But don't you just love kids, Pennsy? Isn't that what you told CowPatty and Gforce in New Hampshire, or am I confused? LOL”

“This sounds interesting.”

“I remember, it was the brats that Pennsy loved, the bratworst that CowPatty cooked.

Must Hike, there is a new thread for this hike with the new date of April 12-13.”

“Thanks Lyndy, but I was referring to Pennsy’s rap with the ladies, lets here more.”