The Clarion Chapter of the NCTA held its monthly hike on August 14, 2010. The chapter chose to hike approximately 8 miles from where the trail crosses Route 66 near the Clarion/Forest County line to the environmental center in Cook Forest. 7 hikers left the trail head on Route 66 at approximately 10:15 on a relatively cool (compared to the last several hikes) morning. The hikers in attendance (from left to right in the picture to the right, taken after the hike) were: Devin Callihan, Bill Wesner, Ed Scurry, Elizabeth Kelly, Gene Stiglitz, Dave Galbreath and Dan Ochs.
Leaving the trail head, the NCT follows a pipeline for about a half mile before heading into the woods on its way to it's first crossing of Maple Creek. Soon after leaving the pipeline, the crew stopped to check out the log box and to hide a geocache nearby. The group then pushed on approximately another 3/4 mile to the first crossing off Maple Creek. The group noticed that Maple Creek was very low. Another geocache was hidden at the bridge across maple creek and the group traveled another 3/4 mile to where the trail intersects with Maple Creek Road. After crossing Maple Creek Road, the band of hikers headed through the Pennsylvania woods towards the trails' second crossing of Maple Creek and then up out of the Maple Creek valley to Jacks Hollow Road.
The road walk on Jacks Hollow Road and Maple Creek road was short and the group found themselves once again heading into the woods on this beautiful Northern Pennsylvania Summer morning. This is the last section before the trail enters Cook Forest State Park. The group mostly pushed through this section except for a short break to admire a very old tree that had fallen across the trail. The group estimated from an approximate count of the rings that it was at least 150 years old. The picture to the left shows some of the group resting and conversing around this fallen tree. Bet that tree was pretty impressive when it was still standing. After this break, the band of hikers pushed onward and crossed Greenwood Road and Forest Road as the hike continued into Cook Forest.
Trail through Cook Forest State Park is much wider, packed down much harder and relatively flat. The hike seemed to go faster once the group started hiking on the trail in Cook Forest. 5 of the group reached the bridge over Brown's Run faster than Bill Wesner and Dan Ochs. We waited for them for a little while and just as Gene Stiglitz volunteered to go back and see if they were ok, we could see them coming down the trail..... very slowly. As they approached, we realized that they were not wearing any shoes. We asked them what was going on and they said that they had a $10 bet on who would put their shoes back on first. They posed for a picture (found at right) and the group pushed on once again.
The 5 in the group with shoes quickly pulled away from Bill and Dan and let them settle their bet in private. After crossing Brown's Run, the NCT follows just above Brown's Run till it meets with Tom's Run Trail Road. When the first of the now 2 groups of hikers reached Ton's Run Trail Road, we waited for Bill and Dan. A few minutes later Bill and Dan arrived with shoes. Let's just say that Bill was $10 richer and bought a few rounds later, and Dan's feet survived for a possible rematch another day.
The last part of the hike through Cook Forest State Park was a leisurely walk along Tom's Run back to the Environmental Center and our awaiting cars. The heat of the day held off until about the last hour of the hike and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the late morning/early afternoon walk. We arrived back at our vehicles at about 2:30. Everyone is looking forward to the next hike.
That pretty much sums up the day. What a merry band of hiker we are!
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