Hike #463 1/10/10
1/10/10 Summit Station PA area Blue Mountain Loop with Jillane Becker, Amanda Rosenblatt, Kyle Zalinsky, Carol Creamer, Dave "Captain Soup" Campbell, Eric Pace, Ron Phelps, Barb Blythe, Jim Delotto, and "Amish Paul" Hassler.
Group shot on the trails behind the fair grounds near Summit Station PA
Unfortunitely the original journal for this one was lost to the fire as well.
This hike began at the county fair grounds which had a few little trails in the vicinity of Summit Station PA, on Rt 895, Fair Road.
After we were all together we began walking through the snowy fields out to a little covered bridge in the county fair grounds. We then continued on along a tree line and some sort of nature trail that went gradually up hill. A ridge separated us from the main Blue Mountain Ridge, so we would have to go over that. We made our way to the end of this first trail, and at the intersection we ascended straight through the woods off trail.
We steeply climbed to reach the crest of this ridge where there was a disturbed clearing of some kind. Delotto rolled around a big old barrel and fell over it. Amish Paul then took over rolling the thing around while we regrouped.
There was a woods road leading incredibly steeply to the south, and so we followed that down hill. Just as all of us reached the bottom and made the corner, Amish Paul pushed the barrel down the hill making lots of crashing sounds. Fortunitely there weren't any houses around.
We crossed a road at the bottom and continued through woods to a small creek crossing. We crossed the creek and tried to follow it's downstream flow to the right, but there were so many blowdowns through the valley it was too difficult, and so we opted to follow along a farm field just barely south of there. The field, probably part of a hunting association, ended and we found an easy way to the creek side again. Now we had to find a way to get across. We ended up following the nice edge of the stream which took us past a staircase and nicely manicured yard with a sign that read "Paradise Found". We followed this stretch out to Bear Creek Road.
Once on the road, we crossed the creek on a bridge. On the opposiite side, we climbed onto another hill and followed another field for a short distance before descending back to the creek side. We didn't want to get near a house, so we had to do this out of the way thing.
The hill was really steep, and a lot of us just slid to get to the bottom.
Jillane after sliding down a steep slope.
Eric particularly enjoyed it as I recall. Jillane, Eric, and I made our way to catch up with some of the group who had gotten ahead, and they were already busy trying to find a way to get across the cold stream on logs or something. I think they put one in, but everyone was able to cross somewhere or another.
From here, our goal was to follow the stream toward the ridge. We walked along it as best we could, but it got really steep. We were now in State Game Lands on the north face of Blue Mountain, but to ascend directly would put us in thick weeds and far from where we wanted to be. The plan was originally to go further down the AT, but we were already so far behind I should have known at this time we wouldn't be able to go through with that.
We had to make our way up and down the ridge a bit, following animal trails where possible, and continued past one developed area where someone had a house as I recall. After this we saw no real developement. The stream led us to a beautiful confluence where we decided to go straight up between the two. We found a hunter's trail that was pretty clear and easy to follow in order to go a ways up the ridge. The trail was great, and it ended at a tree stand, but didn't continue from there. We had to bushwhack it. It got pretty bad, and there were some rocky spots, but we were able to reach the top. We took one long break before getting to the first woods road, part of a logging area I believe.
The woods road led us to a much more prominant woods road where everyone took yet another break. We were all sweating like crazy because the climb was so strenuous.
I think it was Kyle, Delotto, Amish Paul, and I that took the lead following the woods road to the right as it ascended to the very top of the Blue Mountain. It took us to a triple intersection with woods roads going right, left, and straight. On my last trip, the backpack during the Summer, I led the group from straight to the road to our left back out into the Schuykill Gap. This time we'd go straight and try to take the AT southbound. Amish Paul got tired of waiting for everyone and so he went ahead on the AT.
Kyle and I talked about what we were going to do, and I figured it would be easier to cut the hike back toward the cars instead of attempting the AT. The road walking involved would allow us to make up time while still give us substantial mileage. I wasn't sure yet, but I started devising the route at this point.
Once the group was together, we went to where we'd left off on the AT, then headed southbound. We crossed over Rt 183 and then reentered the woods. Soon, the AT descended to a cross mountain abandoned road and a monument at the site of Fort Deitrich Snyder. Back during the Colonial days the ridges were home to stockade forts barring Indian attacks, and this was a prominant one. Roughtly every twenty or so miles had one with lesser forts in between. This one in particular had relation to the "Paxton Boys", Irish settlers who had a vendetta against the native tribe.
It was at this point I made the final decision to change the hike route. I was really worried that Amish Paul went ahead alone, but we had to get away from the crazy snow. We descended from the monument on the old woods road heading into the valley. It was very easy to follow and as I recall the descent gradual.
The road came out in a scout camp area of some kind, maybe Blue Mountain Scout Reservation, I can't remember. We took a break at the base of this hill before turning right toward Rt 183.
Resting near the site of Fort Deitrich Snyder
We followed Blue Mountain Road to 183 and turned left. We then walked parallel with a field which was nice to walk in beside the road. We went over the secondary ridge again on the road, then turned right on Fire House Road. This took us down hill a bit into Summit Station, first passing a place full of tons of portajohns. When we reached the bottom, the road was cut off and the bridge over the creek in town was pedestrian only, an interesting point for an impromptu change to the hike. A resident right next to the bridge told us a bit about the railroad that used to come through, and how now it was being used for water drainage in it's cut. The town was called Summit Station because it was the highest point the railroad reached between the Schuykill River and Swatara Creek I think. Originally, I'd wanted to walk the rail line east back to the fair grounds, but unfortnately it was either flooded or overgrown. We'd have to settle for paralleling it on the road next to it.
Also in Summit Station, we stopped at a nice old playground and goofed off for a bit. We were now having some fun again, and this was the real saving grace for this hike because it was starting to get really tiring and tedious. There was a guy with a fire going in his yard some of the group chatted with for a bit.
Another mirror group shot at Summit Station PA
We continued down the road toward the fair grounds, and stopped at an abandoned barn and house. I don't think there was a way into the house, but we checked out the barn which was pretty cool.
Soon, we got back to the cars. I think we got some snacks at a gas station and then drove to find Amish Paul where we'd parked in the morning on Rt 645. He wasn't there, but his car still was, so I was worried. I decided to run the AT backwards. I ran as hard as I could to try to find him, and soon I reached the Kimmel and Fisher lookouts. Kimmel Lookout in particular was wonderful with a great sunset. I snapped a quick picture before continueing my run.
I soon reached Rt 501 and still hadn't found him so I continued on across the road. Ron and Barb drove back to see if I'd found him, but nothing. After running a ways on the AT, I heard Paul answer one of my hollars, and I was so relieved. I gave him a big hug and we both walked back to Rt 501 where Ron and Barb drove us back. Amish Paul assured me we had nothing to worry about and made fun of me for quite some time after that for how much I worried.
View from Kimmel Overlook, AT in PA
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