Chuck Keiper Tr, PA info needed

“I'm planning on hiking the east loop mid-April.Will hopefully also include a hike around Cranberry Run Swamp. Since we'll be getting a late start my plans are to do it over 3 days: 5 miles/11 miles/8 miles. A map of my route can be found at http://mrhyker.tripod.com/ssf-chuckkeipertr-w.jpg. Can anyone help me with campsites? How's the terrain and blazes? Looks like there is a lot of ups and downs. Should not be a shortage of water. Any help would be greatly appreciated.”

“spindle did the East Loop this past summer. Looks like there's some big honkin' hills on the map.”

“looks like a really fun trail, but I haven't hiked it. Best thing I can recommend is getting Backpacking Pennsylvania by Jeff Mitchell, zeeeee best backpacker's companion for hiking/bp'g PA.
here is a link. This book is awesome!”

“by the way, Jeff Mitchell is also a traltalker. He is our very own jMitch.”

“I'll check it out. BTW, Did you guys ever get to do the entire BFT last year? I remember you had to cancel because of rain. I did what could be thought of as the North half. Am doing the South half this year. Also did the East half of the AFT which I will complete this year as well. Got my eyes set on the Quehanna now.”

“there was a group that finished the BFT over Labor Day and I wanted to join them, but I had to go on a business trip instead :(

So my eyes are on the BFT this year. I'm not sure when I will do it though. Sometime this summer, I am hoping.

We did the AFT in two parts this past summer. I liked the southern half the best. The northern half is fairly over grown, you probably remember.The Quehanna is supposed to be really cool. I also highly recommend the Loyalsock Trail. with the exception of the 2.5 mile road walk, it is my favorite PA trail (until I do the BFT :)). The Old Loggers Path is really great too.

No book comes close to jmitch's book when it comes to hiking/backpacking trail descriptions in PA. It's the best. I highly recommend it. jmitch is quite the resource when it comes to PA's backcountry.”

“Water isn't a problem on that trail. Plan for rain - Chuckie creates its own weather. The trail gets minimal maintenance, which may be a problem that early in the season. Expect lots of blowdowns. The climbs are very steep in places. I can't answer about the campsites. We've hiked it several times - but I don't remember where we camped. I don't remember any problem finding places to camp though. We usually do the trail in two day segments - breaking the circle on Penrose Road instead of the cross connector, making two 25 mile loops instead of a 25 and a 35 mile loop. Or we'll do the long loop on Labor Day weekend. It's a good challenging trail.”

“Without sleeping over somewhere and spending a day's vacation we'd be starting about noon. Without knowing where we're camping I think it's wise to do the short loop in 3 days. Once I get used to the lay of the land I might approach the rest differently.

Earth (and all), My Sierra club schedule is posted on my site should you want to join in. It includes the southern portion of the BFT. www.midatlantichikes.com/hikingschedule.htm. I think I'll order that Jeff Mitchell book.”

“You can find a trail description in the Pennsylvania Trails book put out by KTA.”

“Hmmmm ... I thought I checked them out already. Maybe I missed it. Is that the exact title of the book?”

“Thanks Gin. I got the order form all filled out. Also ordered the Jeff Mitchell book.”

“Boggs Run has campsites- probably the best, potential camping along Cranberry Run, and some off the trail at Clendenin Run, and rock Run has a campsites. Very steep terrain in diamond rock hollow. Nice trail, lots of isolation. Areas of the trail are open due to windstorms, fires, etc. stinging nettle is a problem in summer.”

“On Earths excellent advice I just bought your 37 BP book. Thanks for the info. That helps a lot.

Don't know if you looked at the map above but I tentatively have us camping near the top of Boggs Run, just north of Indian Hollow Rd. Will that work?

For the second night I put a tent icon at the junction with the cross connector on Big Run. You didn't mention that one. Is that doable? If not we could always stop a tad early and use your suggested sites at Rock Run.

I can't seem to find Clendenin Run on the East Loop. Also couldn't pick up Diamond Rock Hollow on the map. What I have on my site is 1/2 the original scale and is hard to read.

I'm also planning on circumnavigating the Cranberry Run swamp. Swamps and bogs offer some very different ecosystems to study. Is that a worthy side trip?”

“Clendenin Run is between Cranberry and Rock Run.That also might work.”

“no campsites in boggs run where you indicated, lots of sidehill there. campsites are further to the west, past the sharp turn above where the streams meet.

There a dry campsites in the hollow/valley to the south of that selected campsite, across the road.

cranberry run is a state natural area, nice place. trail is wet and brushy in places.

don't stress about campsites. lots of streams and potential campsites along the trail.

terrain is extremely steep in spots, i don't think there are any switchbacks.

personally, i prefer the west loop, but the entire trail is nice.

hope you enjoy the book.”

“trail is usually well blazed, but brushy in sections. some sections are very brushy w/ blueberries.

there is a seasonal waterfall on a side tributary in the hollow south of your start/end.

parking is very limited at your start/end. better to park at main trailhead at the vista.”

“We should stop about 0.5 miles early on day one. That could work.

Ooh ... I love wet feet! (Ill attempt at being sarcastic) About 3 years ago it seemed every hike I lead was in or after a rain. Ever since then I've become immune to wet boots.

If it was just me hiking I wouldn't worry about campsites but I hope to bring a group and I need to make sure I take care of their needs.

West Loop ... I've seen pictures of Yosts (spl?) Run on PAhikes.com and am pretty impressed. I'll get to that one next year!”

“Is that below my start point where the connector comes in or to the north of my start point?”

“Barney's Ridge?”

“i think it's like 7 miles south of renovo on 144, very large parking area and trailhead with awesome vista on the right. it's where the east branch trail joins the northern part of the loop, at the juncture of the east and west loops.

clendenin run only has small campsites, south of the trail. best camping is boggs run, rock run (near a cabin) and east branch. cranberry is also good for camping, though i don't remember any established campsites there.”

“yes, barney's ridge.”

“We'll park there and I'll figure out the miles between campsites. East branch as in East Branch of Big Run? That's where my night two tent icon is on the map I believe. It's possible that we may have to reverse the direction of the loop but I'll get it to work!

Is there any chance I can talk you into downloading my map and use microsoft paint or other software to put a mark(s) where the good Boggs Run campsites are and e-mail it to me? I'd appreciate it very much.”

“i'm not familiar with those programs. on your map, where it says "Boggs" you'll see two hollows or valleys to the south, where they join boggs run are the location of the two campsites. the "eastern" hollow (near the "s" in Boggs)has the better camping, more room.”

“I'll make note of that. I made another map changing the route to counter-clockwise and starting at the vista. Will consider campsites for day 1 when we get there (East Branch, Rock Run, Celendin, Cranberry Runs) and camp in Bogg's on the second night.”