Hike #426 7/18 to 7/19/9
7/18-7/19/9 Port Clinton and West Blue Mountain Loop with Larry Butler, "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Kyle Zalinsky, Amanda Rosenblatt, Eric Pace, Brad Baesic, and Jalayne Reed.
Group shot after the hike
I was surprised that only Larry showed up for the first day, but thankful. It was a bit annoying to think that hardly anyone was into it when so many were into the parties and such. Still, it worked out fine and we had a good large group the next day. This was also the first hike for our friends Brad and Jalayne! Overall, it was a rather boring hike after the second part, but the group made it special. I can always count on them to turn around an other wise crummy situation.
The cliff jumping at the end was definitely a saving grace, but I was hurting really badly. I never take any sort of medication of any kind, but this time I actually took an Advil because I just couldn't handle the awful pain in the backs of my ears and in my head. It lasted for a few days.
Flowers growing in the Schuykill Gap along the AT
Along the AT in Port Clinton PA
Giant piece of coal along the AT in Port Clinton PA
Schuykill River Trail north of Port Clinton PA
My next hike would be an overnight trip covering a loop on the Appalachian Trail and sorrounding areas beginning where we last left off in the Schuykill Gap of Port Clinton PA. Joining me on Saturday was only Larry Butler, everyone else had backed out. The next day we would be joined by a larger group. Larry and I started off along the AT heading along what was probably the Schuykill Canal and then headed through downtown Port Clinton (1,2). The AT took us across an old railroad bridge and then through a rail yard where excursion trains are run. There were the largest pieces of coal I've ever seen out front (3-4a).
HUGE piece of coal in Port Clinton PA along the AT
Unmarked trail along a field north of Port Clinton PA
Abandoned power line right of way near Port Clinton
Abandoned power line right of way near Port Clinton
Abandoned power line right of way near Port Clinton
We continued across the rail yard and ascended on the Appalachian Trail to the Schuykill River Trail, which followed an old rail bed at this point, not sure which one. We followed it for a few miles north (5) to a woods road access to State Game Lands and then followed another woods road frm the game land parking lot up hill steeply through fields and woods (6-8). The woods road led us to what appeared to be an abandoned pipe line which we followed up hill at an even steeper grade.
Heading up a woods road onto Blue Mountain
Auburn Overlook along the AT
Auburn Overlook along the AT
Auburn Overlook along the AT
Auburn Overlook along the AT
Eagles Nest Shelter just off of the AT
View from Eagles Nest Shelter just off of the AT, looking north. Not to be confused with the Eagles Nest which is a south facing lookout just west.
The Eagles Nest view, on a side path from the AT
The Eagles Nest view, on a side path from the AT
We went up over a small ridge to another steep incline (9,10) leading to the Appalachian Trail again. We followed the AT southbound. We came soon to a view called Auburn Overlook, looking over it's namesake town (11-14). From here, we continued along a rather boring section of the AT with no views or anything, only crossings of wide Game Lands roads. We tried followed a couple of them briefly in hopes of finding views, but none were to be had. Our next turn was onto Eagles Nest Shelter Trail. We usually want to see all of the shelters, so we checked it out. There was a spring first, then the trail led us to the shelter, a very nice one (15). Beyond, the trail led to a small viewpoint with not much to see (16). We continued back to the AT heading southbound. It seemed like forever, but we came to Eagles Nest Trail, which led 1.2 miles south off the AT to Eagles Nest Lookout. This along with Auburn Overlook were the only good views on the trip. It was surprising they did'nt route the AT closer to this vista rather than making such a long spur trail (17-18aa). On this boring AT section even the smallest weird trees were a big excitement (19). When we knew we were nearly a mile away from the next road (I think it was Rt 183) we decided to set up camp, at the junction of side trail to a spring. We set up a good wood pile and got a raging fire going (20-26).
Camp fire along the AT on Blue Mountain
Weird trail along the AT on Blue Mountain
Our camp fire on Blue Mountain
Our camp fire on Blue Mountain
Our camp fire on Blue Mountain
Our camp fire on Blue Mountain
Our camp fire on Blue Mountain
Our camp fire on Blue Mountain
Larry and I sat up drinking wine and laughing for a while, and I opted not to even set my tent up since it was so nice out. It was a wonderful feeling just sleeping in my sleeping bag. Fortunitely it did'nt rain. I had found a giant log and threw it onto the fire earlier on, and in the morning the fire was still going! We packed up and soon were on our way down the AT north which led us to a gravel road to a State Game Lands parking area where we were joined by Kyle Zalinsky, "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Amanda Rosenblatt, Eric Pace, Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, and newcomers Brad Baesic and Jalayne Reed whom we met at a pizza place after our recent Pocono Rim hike. I thought it was crazy to meet another girl named "Jalayne" even if it was spelled differently. Once we were together we began following the game lands road back, crossing over the AT and then paralleling it further up on the ridge. It was brutal because there was no shade (26a). We continued on to the Sand Spring Trail I think it was, following it down across the AT (26b-26ea) and then took the Tom Lowe Trail and looped down hill around the base of Blue Mountain to a nice stream (26eb-26y). we then continued up the side of Blue Mountain along an old cross mountain woods road from Shartlesville or something, which the trail followed up.
Taking a break at the base of Blue Mountain near Shartlesville
We met a horseback rider up there who we talked to the entire way up. He told us of how he brought his horse riding all over the country. At the top, we turned right following another game lands road that was quite wide to the AT and headed north on it (26z-27aa). It was hot and humid, and tough to deal with it on this hike with no swimming. We continued on the AT and descended steeply down into the Schuykill Gap and the rail trail, then back down to the rail yards (27b-27d). We crossed the Schuykill and walked back through Port Clinton, but instead of going to the cars we wandered down to a stony access point along the river with a forty foot cliff. Kyle, Wyatt, and I swam across and tried out the cliff jump which was incredible, but it hurt as I got a lot of water in my ears. We each did the jump twice (27e-27gab). After the hike we went to a nice restaurant in Shartlesville (27ia) to finish a good day.
HUGE piece of coal in Port Clinton PA along the AT
Camp fire along the AT on Blue Mountain
Heading up a woods road onto Blue Mountain
Group shot after the hike
Taking a break at the base of Blue Mountain near Shartlesville
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