Quehanna Trail heads up

[medicjimr]

Thought I would post if you are not aware back in June of this year there was a well explosion this wonderful Marcellus shale crap. Well it contaminated the major water source. The rangers told me this weekend that the safe measure is 200 ppm and the current contaminate reading is at 2000 ppm you cannot safely filter boil or treat the water for consumption. The company involved is supposedly using a sub pump to pump out the spring that is contaminated and will be some time till you can get water from any stream or spring in area so that said you will need to stash water or plan on carrying enough water for the 70 mile plus loop.

[Toolshed]

contaminated with what?

[ki0eh]

Can you provide more specifics on the name or the location of the particular water source you are speaking of? There is more than one, in several drainages.

[medicjimr]

Sorry they didn't specify what the contaminate was just that it effected the whole water table they have signs at all trail heads you may have some sources but what I was told buy the ranger didn't sound like it 814-765-0821 is the district number for more info sorry just going buy what the ranger said

[Toolshed]

I thought the whole area still had a lot of uranium or strontium still

[medicjimr]

Ok I posted this on the NEOHBC site as well and one of the members there got a hold of someone at the state forest office and is downplaying what I was told that it only infected a small area and signs are still up as a precaution. If that is the case I don't know why the other state worker told me this maybe because she works in office and not the field like the rangers who knows either way wasn't trying to stir the pot here

[colden]

I just finished Quehanna trail. I also hiked it the week after the "Industrial accident". And yes, I drank the water in various locations on the trail. First off, I'm still alive. Second, last year at the park office at parker Dam I was told the accident happend on the laurel run drainage which is located near the western terminus by Parker Dam State Park. I drank mostly from springs which tend to run perpendicular to the drainages or at the start of the runs (streams) themselves. Some of the bigger streams such as Mosquito creek and it's feeders did have a brownish-red tinge to the colour though which I've been told are tannins. I've hiked the Quehanna 8 different times since 2002 and the water didn't have any different taste or colour to it than normal. I'm guessing that the DCNR is being overly cautious about the warnings. Then again, I might get cancer from this in 20 years; or cancer from the industrial are we breathe; or from the preservatives in the food that we eat.

[colden]

I just finished Quehanna trail. I also hiked it the week after the "Industrial accident". And yes, I drank the water in various locations on the trail. First off, I'm still alive. Second, last year at the park office at parker Dam I was told the accident happend on the laurel run drainage which is located near the western terminus by Parker Dam State Park. I drank mostly from springs which tend to run perpendicular to the drainages or at the start of the runs (streams) themselves. Some of the bigger streams such as Mosquito creek and it's feeders did have a brownish-red tinge to the colour though which I've been told are tannins. I've hiked the Quehanna 8 different times since 2002 and the water didn't have any different taste or colour to it than normal. I'm guessing that the DCNR is being overly cautious about the warnings. Then again, I might get cancer from this in 20 years; or cancer from the industrial air we breathe; or from the preservatives in the food that we eat.

[dan213]

I hiked this trail last year and remember the water but a little sketchy. They did have a sign up at the beginning of the trail saying there was a leak or something like that and to drink water at your own caution.

I used water filter drops (like I usually always do) but I doubt that would have done much. I never got sick, etc so unless it got worse in the past year, I think you won't have issues drinking it.

[simon]

Hi, I want to hike part of the QT in October. I only have three days and want to hike in the Eastern half of the trail. Anyone know a good connector trail, parking? I'd love to see an ELK!

[handlebar]

There is a "connector" trail at the midpoint that may be suitable to cut the eastern half down to a three day trip. I believe you can find a map of the trail online at the Parker Dam State Park web site.

[ki0eh]

Several ski trails can also be used to shorten the circuit on the east end. The Bureau of Forestry map will show these - see here if this works: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/hiking/quehannamap.aspx or call the Moshannon Forest District, Elk Forest District, or Recreation Section Bureau of Forestry in Harrisburg 717 783-7941 and they can mail you the printed map for free. Good parking lot by intersection of Quehanna Hwy and Wykoff Run Rd (basically "the" intersection) and you can approach this hub of the wheel from several directions. The Greate Buffaloe Swamp trail guide (order it here: http://quehannaareatrailsclub.com/Books.html ) covers all the side trails - ski, cross-connector, whatever - in exhaustive and often fascinating detail.

[simon]

Thanks, after looking at the map i think i'll go Wykoff,,,,,Big Spring Draft, No Fifteen Trail, QT 35.8,QCTC,Meeker, David Lewis. I'm guessing that will be around thirty or so miles.

[simon]

Did a three day hike using the connector trail. What a nice trail. Well marked and not to many ups and downs. Saw deer, gouse and turkey. Drank a lot of water fresh out of the springs so i hope it is clean. Maybe next year i'll try the full lenght.

[handlebar]

If you're lucky, you might see an elk, or hear one bugling. The area at the northwest end of the loop has a lot of elk---after all, it's Elk County.