Long weekend on the Black Forest Trail - TR

“the slacker that I am, I'll have the trip report up later.

The views were great, the climbs kicked butt, the descents rattled knees, the forests were serene, the creeks and runs were sublime and the mountain burgers... priceless.

There were three of us, Pennsy, Lost Soul and myself. It seems like ages ago when I started out at the trailhead Thursday night. It was a fun time.”

“"mountain burgers"

Are those anything like meadow muffins?”

“Come on, Clem. Get with it!

MarkO - what the heck is a meadow muffin? Mountain burger is what it sounds like, a burger as big as a mountain, and very very tasty.”

“I suspect that Meadow Muffins are not something you'd want to be eating.”

“I thought maybe "mountain burger" was trail schit!!

(yeah, right..............hahahahahahahaha!!!)”

“Yep, nothin like a Mountain Burger and cold beer at the Waterville. Next time you're in the area, you may want to give the Hotel Manor a try as well. Their Tri-tip steak sandwich is pretty darn tasty, and the Troeg's beers go down real smooth. It's also only a short drunken stumble from there to the campsite on the BFT by Slate Run.”

“I am ignoring this thread....I am ignoring this thread... lalalalalalalala I can't hear you, uhmm...see you.”

“excellent pics, great trail.”

“Gemini is a slacker!!

Hahahahahahahahahaha!!

Gaiters and shorts, now there's a look.”

“E&S... Nice pix!!! What a grand weekend and great weather youans had! Your pix bring back many good memories of being on the BFT with TT ppl and others, plus a number of solo hikes I've done there over the years with my dog. One of the great things about these places we go to is that they never change, yet are ever-changing ...with the seasons, weather conditions, time of day, etc. You can rely on them to provide some of the best experiences this side of eternity.

Thanks for sharing. Happy Trails!”

“Beautiful pictures and trail. What's the length of this trail?

Looks like it would make for a nice fall hike too?”

“wow, how the heck do you get so many pictures and still manage to do that many miles a day??!!good pics...sounds like a nice trip”

“Great pictures, now where's the trip report slacker? 8D”

“the entire trail is about 43 miles.

we did 1 mile into camp Thursday night. 15 miles on Friday, 17 miles on Saturday and 10 miles yesterday.

I'll work on the TR tonight.

Msilver, you're right! The time on the trail is very special to me. Sometimes while relaxing in camp or gazing out from a vista, I feel as though nothing else matters. This is it and it doesn't get better.

I love to put a lot of miles in a day. It's not because I want to gloat, but because, I love the wilderness and I want to explore as much of it as possible. I sit behind a desk all week long and all week long I anticipate the weekend's arrival, so I can get out into the wilds and walk. When I get to the wilds, I want to walk and walk and walk.

I absolutely loves trails with views and I love dropping down low into coves. That's one of the great things about the BFT. It goes up high and dips down low. It follows ridgelines and it follows water. You can camp in a meadow or you can camp under hemlocks. I also love to get that burn in my legs while climbing a hill, but then feel it melt away as I walk the ridgeline. I am very blessed to be doing what I do each weekend. I am really grateful we have the wilds we have and that we are still able to go out and feel some isolation.

I definately think the BFT would be beautiful in fall, but it's one of those trails that knocks your socks off no matter what time of year you're hiking.”

“I'm not a big miles guy but still enjoy these trips even if I have to do them in smaller bites than many of you. We'll be up there this summer to finish the remaining 25 miles or so. Looks like the spring flowers are out in great numbers now. There's one photo of a Trillium. You call it a White but I believe it's actually a "Painted" Trillium (Red center). A "White" is pure white I believe.”

“white trillium is the one that's rare, correct?”

“I think the rariety is a relative term. There's a wild flower conservancy in PA, near the Holtwood Recreation area called Shenk's Ferry that has tons of White (AKA Large-Flowered) Trillium and other wild flowers. Here's a White (large-flowered) from Shenk's Ferry:

http://mrhyker.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/w-trillium-largeflowered.JPG

Here's an old faded Painted Trillium like yours (but yours is in much better shape) from the Roaring Plains, WV:

http://mrhyker.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/w-paintedtrillium-r.JPG

I need to upgrade that photo. I have some better ones around here somewhere.
last edited: 5/08/06 10:59:42 AM”

“i really need another trip soon. pics of the BFT get me motivated.”

“hey Jmitch, the Devils Path is in less than two weeks away.”

“The Black Forest Trail is located in North Central PA, in Lycoming, Clinton and Potter Counties. It traverses ridge lines and hollows in the Allegheny Mountains near the Pine Creek Gorge (otherwise known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania).

Geologically speaking, it is located in the Allegheny Plateau Province of the Appalachian Mountains and the ridge lines and valleys are on a heavily eroded plateau. All this makes for dramatic scenery and is the recipe for a great trail, which the Black Forest Trail no doubt is.

I have been wanting to hike the Black Forest Trail for several years now, but every time I planned a trip, something would come up and I would have to cancel.

In the days preceeding the hike, the anticipation was higher than ever. The forecasted weather was showing rain though. I had complete confidence, however, the trip would be a success and Wedensday night of last week I was packed and ready to go.

May 4th:

I originally planned to arrive late Thursday night, but it was beautiful Thursday morning and I couldn't sit still, so I asked my boss to leave work early. I stopped at the Waterville Hotel and picked up some Yuengling Lagers for camp and had a cheeseburger and was at the trailhead before 6pm.

The Black Forest Trail is a circuit, so no shuttling necessary. I was the first one there, so I hiked the short mile into the campsite near the headwaters of Trout Run.

Halfway into the hike to camp is a nice vista of Naval Run Canyon, Hemlock Mountain and Pine Run Gorge off in the distance. I also saw two deer cross the trail there.

I got my bivvy and tarp set, put the beer in the spring to keep cool and collected fire wood and waited. There was a short rain, but nothing much. After it stopped, I walked back out to the trailhead on PA 44 to see if Pennsy was there. Before I reached the trailhead, I saw Pennsy's headlamp coming up the trail.

He scared the chit out of me in the Catskills a few weeks ago, so I thought I would try and get him back, but he saw me before I could hide.

We walked back to camp and he set up his tent while I got the fire going. We each had a beer while we waited for Lost Soul to arrive.

Around 11, he strolled into camp and I handed him a beer while he was setting up his tent.

We hung out by the campfire past midnight, but the morning was coming fast and we had an early wake up call and a big day ahead.

stay tuned for May 5th”

“Nice pictures and the weather the was nice over the weekend. We do need rain, but the picture of Slate Run looks like it was at a nice level for fly fishing. I'll bet there were fisherman out on the stream last weekend. How were the bugs out there?”

“The black flies were bad Friday and early Saturday. None of us packed insect repellent and we were eaten alive. However Saturday evening when it was no longer needed I found a bottle of deet in my pack. I was given the trip dumb ass award on the spot. We only saw four people on the trail in three days. Two turkey hunters,a guy walking a dog, and one hiker camped along the creek. Other then that the place was all ours.
last edited: 5/08/06 8:11:27 PM”

“I thought they might be bad. I was out there fishing many years ago in early May and the bugs were so bad I got eaten alive too. Later in the season they usually aren't as bad.”

“Rich - looking at my legs, you'd swear I have measles. Those nasty critters were insane on Friday and early Saturday. I never gave it a thought to bring my bug jacket, and you read what lost soul said. He is now one of us, a true bonehead. Welcome to the club. :o)

He scared the chit out of me in the Catskills a few weeks ago, so I thought I would try and get him back, but he saw me before I could hide.

Spook 101: hide behind a tree, not 1 foot off the trail right in the open.

Super pics ENS and great TR so far. I'm regretting not bringing my new camera. Weather dude called for rain and tstorms and all we saw was the sun.

I'll let ENS finish the TR (come on Clem, hurry up), but I'll just say that I never get tired of doing this trail. It's still my favorite trail in Pa.”

“I believe it and those welts can last a long time, well at least on me they do. I remember they were so bad when I was fishing on Slate Run at lunchtime, I went back to my van and ate inside just to get away from them.”

“Great report and pics.”

“Ain't no black flies in West Virginia.

Does one have to hike in Pennsylvania join The Bonehead Club?”

“Is it true what they say ... that the black fly is PA's state bird? I agree Marko, I have never been bitten by an insect of any kind while hiking in the Monongahela NF. I think above 3000 feet the bugs need oxygen masks to survive.”

“MarkO, you are a full fledged member. You just have to rotate in my circle.”

“the black flies are only in northern PA. I've lived in PA most of my life and this was my first black fly experience.

House flies are probably our state bird.”

“I lead a short over-nighter in Green Ridge State Forest, MD this weekend and they were pretty bad. Had more issues with them landing in any oriface they could find. Have you ever heard 10 people tring to have a conversation with their mouths closed: "MMmmm-MMshhh". "I don't ... mmmm ... mm.... mmmmmm". " Oh yeah ... clunk ... gag ... spit .... so much for dinner!"”

“oh, I've only heard about them in northern PA and north, didn't know they went south.”

“We have our fair share of them down here.On Saturday, if you had a hyration pack, you didn't need to take a break for a snack. Just walk with your mouth open for a few minutes, swallow then wash it down with water. It's the freshest form of high protein gorp going.By the end of the day some folks were actually too full for dinner.”

“are there any "short cuts" on this trail to maby make it around 30 miles?”

“Thanks, E&S.......”

“See the link on my website:

http://www.midatlantichikes.com/id194.html”

“Very nice!!!”

“Boneheads like Pennsy and EarthNsky don't need no shortcuts.”

“They don't need no stinkin' shortcuts!!!!”

“thanks mrhyker...that's perfect...i'm gonna try to save my "big hike" for Isle Royal next year but i need some smaller hikes and this is perfect”

“I'll be doing the "southern Loop" of about 22 miles over Sept 2-4 weekend so keep an eye out on my site.”

“our son's about to be born so i'm toast for the rest of the year unless it's local weekenders...i'm burning up all my vacation when he gets here”

“Just wanted you to know there would be yet another option to choose from. Don't know if you scoped out my site but I have several 1,2 and 3 day trips posted in the region. What is a local weekender to you?”

“something that i don't have to take off work to drive to, something within 3-4 hours drive, so that pretty much rules out anything in PA”

“great pictures, it looks like a really great place to hike.”

“Where is home?”

“Friday morning we got up early, packed up camp, ate breakfast by the fire and were on the trail not long after 8. It was a cool morning, but the sun was warming the air quickly.

The trail was beautiful and I loved it immediately. It first rolled through some hemlock forests, then ascended into a hardwood forest with an understory of mountain laurel waiting to bloom. We passed a few cabins, crossed a few mountain top streams and then came to our first view. It was of Pine Creek, Callahan Run, Naval Run and Hemlock Mountain.

The bugs increased their swarming tactics with intensity as we descended steeply into Callahan Run Hollow. On the way down, we passed some turkey hunters. They were cordial, but didn't seem to happy to see hikers on the trail disturbing the peace. At the bottom of the hollow was a lovely waterfall on Callahan Run. Nearby was a campsite, that would make wonderful digs for a night in the woods.

There were turned and began a long steady climb along another branch of Callahan Run up to the ridgeline of Hemlock Mountain. The final couple hundred feet to Hemlock mountain were very steep and rocky, but the views from the top of the Pine Creek Gorge were amazing. It was cool to see the area where the Golden Eagle Trail was located off in the distance. A few of us hiked that trail on a lovely almost spring like New Years Day more than a year ago.

While descending the northern face of Hemlock Mountain, it was easy to ascertain how the mountain's name was arrived upon. Its slopes were thick with beautiful, majestic and large hemlock trees. Walking below the trees on the trail, one could easily tell why the trail is called the Black Forest Trail. It's pretty dark in the forests there.

At the bottom of Hemlock Mountain awaited Naval Run and there we pumped water and took a small snack break. The bugs swarmed in like heat seeking missiles. We didn't stop for long, desperate to keep the black flies from biting us. Naval Run had a beautiful waterfall.

It wasn't long and we were climbing again, this particular climb was probably the most difficult on the entire BFT loop. There were switchbacks, but they did little reduce the steep pitch of the climb. At the top was a nice view of the area's Half Dome, one of the taller peaks and the biggest elevation relief in the region. The views continued to be dramatic. At the top we stopped for lunch and donned our rain clothing to ward off the flies. It was now hot out and the temperature was close to 80 degrees.

We saw a man walking his dog. He probably thought we were crazy wearing rain gear. He seemed unfazed by the attacking bugs.

Many more views followed, several amazing ones of Pine Creek Goege. We arrived at a trail register and Pennsy found an entry written by Lilmountaingirl last year on another TT trip, in which Pennsy also was in cast.

There were a few more climbs and descents as we neared camp at Foster Hollow. In the last two miles we descended into Foster Hollow. I knew camp was around 2000 feet, but we continued to descend. This only meant we would have one final buttkicker climb into camp at the top of Foster Hollow. It was a tough climb and it was rocky. We were tired and dinner weighed heavily on our minds. When we arrived in camp, there was much rejoicing. First things first, we got a good fire going to get rid of the bugs, then set up tents and then had dinner.

By ten PM Friday night, camp was quiet, but it was a lovely night.”

“I woke up in the middle of the night, very hot and sweaty. I was sleeping under a tarp, but it was a fairly warm night and I had my zero* bag. As I laid there trying to cool off and fall back to sleep, I could hear numerous coyotes howling in the near distance. Others forest sounds abounded. There is a pond at the top of foster hollow and the frogs were chirping as if in a beautiful chorus. The coyotes made me a little nervous, but I fell back to sleep.

We were up around the same time again Saturday morning, before 7. Lost Soul had the fire going. We packed up camp, ate breakfast and as usual, everyone was waiting on me. Again we were on the trail by 8am.

The trail wound its way through a mixed forest of hardwoods, white pine and mountain laurels and we came to our first vista of Slate Run. It was a nice view, but better views were to come.

The nicest thing about the views, was that the trees were still budding there and that made the mountain slopes quite colorful. It was almost as colorful as autumn time. The Black Forest Trail is a great spring time trail for this very reason.

The descent to Slate Run was very rugged and steep. I was testing out new trail shoes and my toes were pounding on the descents, especially this one. As we neared the bottom, another view opened up, this one was better than the one at the top.

At the bottom, the trail parrallells Slate Run for more than a mile and then crosses it before it gets to Pine Creek. The catch is, that there is no bridge and Slate Run is a large creek ford. Luckily, Pennsy brought his wiggy waders. Unfortunately, they had a leak, as we found out the week before on the Thunderswamp trail. The water was flowing normally, it wasn't high, butit wasn't low either. We were all able to get across and our feet remained reasonably dry.

We then climbed back to the top of the plateau. It was another long buttkicker of a climb and was rocky in some parts. This time the climb was broken up into three climbs, so we were awarded a few breaks and there were nice views of Slate Run along the way.

Once at the top, there was a long stretch of level hiking through budding hardwood forest and mountain laurels. Pennsy talked fondly of other trips he had made to the BFT. It was obvious how much of a high regard he holds for the trail and the area. Now that I have hiked the trail, I can say the high regard is shared.

After a few miles of level trail, there was a rocky section along the escarpment of the plateau that gazed off into Slate Run Canyon and Red Run hollow, as with the otherviews on the BFT, these were no exception. They were awesome too. The descent into Red Run Hollow was the rockiest, but that made it fun. There were some lovely small waterfalls on Red Run and some cool rock formations that Red Run navigated, so it was very interesting.

We stopped for lunch at a waterfall on Morris Run. Earlier in the day it was cool and cloudy and at one point we put on our shells since the wind was so brisk, but it felt a lot warmer by lunch time.

We crossed back over Slate Run a second time, this time on a dirt road bridge and then climbed back up to the plateau. The final 5 miles into camp were easy with some small rollers. We passed a few nice campsites and some views off to the west and then crossed PA 44 and then into camp on the County Line Run.

The mosquitters were bad in camp, but we all set up our shelters first and then got the fire going. The fire got rid of the squitters. We had another great night in camp. Lost Soul discovered he brought bug spray after mosquitos and black flies became a non-issue. It made for a good laugh.

Saturday night was very cool. The forescast called for temps in the 20s. We're not sure exactly how low they got, it was pretty cool though. Camp was quiet by 10 again and I don't remember it taking long at all before we were all asleep.”

“stay tuned for the final chapter - day 4 of our Black Forest Trail adventure.”