Snowshoes in motion Loyalsock trail TR

“By Friday night everyone had dropped out for this trip. I figured this was going to be my last chance this season to snowshoe, so I was determined to get out.
It was 12 degrees with bright sun shine when I arrived at Worlds End SP ranger station early Saturday morning. I had no maps or any idea which way to head, so I went inside to register my car for overnight parking and talk to the ranger. he was very helpful, giving me a map of the state park and one of the Loyalsock state forest. As he was highlighting the route I wanted to take he noticed the link trail didn't connect with the Loyalsock. The connection was shown on a more detailed map he had, so he made a photocopy for me.

The trail was broken so I bare booted it up the steep climb to high rock. After that the trail leveled out to a steady climb so I strapped on my snowshoes and I was off. Walking in old snowshoe tracks made the going easy and I made Sones Pond in 4 1/2 hours. The trail was full of wildlife tracks Turkey, Deer,Coyote,Grouse,and I even think I saw Bobcat tracks. With plenty of daylight left I pushed on to the Link trail. After the road walk section on 154 I headed back into the woods to find the trail hadn't been broken. The walking was much more strenuous and I ran out of steam well before Cold Run Rd. I camped beside the trail in no particular spot. Using my snowshoe as a shovel I cleared the snow and set up camp. As the sun set the coyote came to life barking and howling for hours.
Sunday morning I hit the trail at 8:30 for more trail breaking fun. The weather was cloudy with a light breeze and the temps were in the teens. At Canyon Vista the trail was once again broken, but by someone bare booting it. The steepness of the trail made it difficult to use snowshoes, so I switched to yaktracks for the rest of the trip. I got back to the ranger station around 12:30 and headed for home .
I enjoyed this trip the park was beautiful and the weather was perfect I'll be back Worlds End sometime in the future.
last edited: 2/27/07 8:42:21 PM”

“Nice LS, sounds like a really cool time! I'd like to go there sometime myself. Any pics?”

“totally awesome LS!!!

I'm sorry I had to bail last moment. I'm glad you were able to make it. I hope you had fun. That's a nice loop.

You got pretty far on Saturday, you must have been hauling ass!

Did you enjoy using the snow shoes.”

“Sorry BS no pics. I have the MSR shoes that are moulded plastic and they are very loud on crusty snow, but I loved snowshoeing it was very cool.”

“the Loyalsock is one of my favorite trails in PA, with the exception of a 3 mile road walk in the western 3rd.

There is a pretty pushy timber rattle snake in between Kettle Run Vista and Mary's View. Although, I've only seen her once, but she was pretty insistent that we did not hike by her or anywhere near her.”

“You Rock L_S. I got a little snowshoing in myself. Took JackstrawJr and my nephew up to Giant Ledge. Rolled in after midnight 2 ft of powder laying on a drifted over trail once we reached hight of land winds picked up and snow drifted 3-4 feet. Sheltered and continued up to the ledge the next morning. Temps at night est. neg. 25. We had a blast and it sounds like you did too.”

“25 below OMG. That's a little hard to take, but the snow drifts sound really cool. Come to think of it this was the first trip in a long time I didn't stumble in in the dark.”

“I'm jealous”