Hiking the Laurel Highlands Trail

More Misadventures From Atop the Alleghenies – Part 1

or: Why it Took Thirteen Hours Over Three Weeks to Hike the First Seven Miles of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

Trail Gallery
Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Official Page

Okay, a couple of fine points first:

Photo of Sun, Snow and Trees Along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail

I’m not a backpacker. I bought a truck so I’d have room to carry all my stuff on a 3 day/2 night camping trip. I’m not about to carry my life on my back for weeks at a time. In the words of Brett Weston: “If it’s more than 20 yards from the car, it’s not a photograph.” So, when I plan to hike a long trail, it’s got to have accessable trailheads not too many miles apart. Whatever distance I hike in, I’ll have to hike out. The 70 mile Laurel Highlands Trail will eventually take me 140 miles to finish.
The kids stopped hiking with me years ago, as I cannot resist the urge, at any given moment, to strike out directly across country. “What’s this? Looks like a shortcut…” Turn left at the rock that looks like a bear. Turn right at the bear that looks like a rock, and, three weeks later…
I’m an old, fat, lazy smoker, and it takes me a long time to get up one of these hills.

Photo of a Tree Along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail So, back in 2008, I figure it’s time to tackle the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. A nice thing about wandering around Johnstown and PA’s Southern Alleghenies is that, no matter how alone you think you are, no matter how far out in the wilds you may be; if you travel in a straight line, you’re never more than a thirty to sixty minute walk from a paved road. The plan is to hike the first 5 miles of trail, straight up the ridge, to the Decker Avenue fire tower. Next leg, I can drive up to the tower and continue south to PA Rt. 271. 10-12 miles today and maybe 16 or so miles next time.

Well, I get half-way up the ridge, huffing and puffing all the way, and I see this guy standing by a pile of boulders. “What’s up?” “Oh, the kids are down checking out the old iron furnace.” “Iron furnace?” I’d had no idea there were ruins on the steep slope. So, I left the trail and headed downhill (not thinking I’d have to go back up again) and checked out the old iron furnace too. By the time I was satisfied, it was close to Steeler game time, so, puffing and huffing, head for home and save the rest of the climb for another day.

Photo of a Snow Squall Atop the Conemaugh Gap Second Attempt- One week later and my kind of weather, seriously: bitter cold, high winds and snow squalls. I finally reach the top of the ridge, overlooking Morrellville and the Conemaugh Valley, biting wind huffing and puffing nearly as hard as I am, exhausted, iced to the bone, numb, like Lawrence’s frozen bird; and never having felt more alive in my life. Life is good. First leg is over and I’m well on my way to Ohiopyle. I’m looking forward to the next trip, which should get me half-way from the tower array to the Ligonier Pike.

Photo of a Shelter Fireplace Along the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail Thanksgiving Sunday: snow on the ground, but clear skies and bright sun. I drive to the fire tower, spend a few minutes looking for the trail, and, finding it, head south. I get about three miles in, discovering and exploring the shelter area on the way. The time at the shelters cut into my hiking time and it’s warming up quite a bit. Reaching a power line leading from New Florence generating station, I see, down slope about a hundred yards, a quad track. “Oh. Looks like a shortcut…” Two hours later, before I realize what I’ve done, I’m back down at Big Spring Reservoir, the Peach Orchard, the Northern Terminus, the bottom of the Laurel Ridge, and I have to hike up that stinking mountain ONE MORE TIME to get back to my truck! And, huffing and puffing, I loved every minute of it.