View Full Version : Picturing Pennsylvania
This thread is dedicated to everyone who appreciates the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania, especially its maintaining clubs, individuals who provide the experience and others who cannot visit as often as they desire or who have posted here providing new perspectives.
It's purpose is to call attention to special points of interest that may be missed by though hikers, sectioners or local hikers as well as experiences that can only be enjoyed off-season or off-trail.
We have accumulated a tremendous amount of information here in part because we have challenged hikers to explore the opportunities and report back.
Let's see what we can gather in celebration of our accomplishments and what we can add to them.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=38651
Cookerhiker
11-24-2010, 21:10
...is both the widest river crossing on the AT and the longest river over which the AT crosses. Hiking northbound from Duncannon after you cross the bridge and ascend the ridge on the other (east) side, you walk for a few miles where you see the Susquehanna off to both the right and the left because of the river's twisting in an almost-360 degree circle.
The Susquehanna is the main freshwater feeder source of the Chesapeake Bay which in turn is the largest estuary in the Continental USA. I can't cite statistics but the Susquehanna's infusion of fresh water far exceeds that of the Potomac, James, Rappahannock, and others. Indeed, the Upper Bay where the Susquehanna enters has a high percentage of freshwater due to the river's strong flow.
Click on Rainbows (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1070373&postcount=1) for the opening post of a new thread linking an image of a double rainbow over Kittatinny Ridge.
mweinstone
11-24-2010, 22:40
wind gaps town motto,"a gap in time"
bronconite
12-21-2010, 08:01
...is both the widest river crossing on the AT and the longest river over which the AT crosses.
Just a few miles south of Duncannon is the Rockville Bridge. It was built between 1900 and 1902 by the Pennsylvania Railroad. As long as it has existed it has been the longest stone arch bridge in the world and is still in use today.
Thanks for waking up this thread. I think it has great potential.
Several years ago, I provided links to images posted on Historical and Museum Commission's website. Unfortunately, when they reworked it, the links were broken.
Rockville Bridge may be seen by motorists travelling Pennsylvania Turnpike by looking upriver. It was once thought by A.T. planners it might one day serve as the A.T. crossing, but Pennsylvania Railroad never granted permission.
SATC provides excellent information on its website about the A.T.'s route and Earl Shaffer's role in the major relocation completed in the 1950s.
Rockville Bridge may be seen by motorists travelling Pennsylvania Turnpike by looking upriver.
It was once intended to be the A.T. crossing, but Pennsylvania Railroad never granted permission.
I'll rework this post when I locate links. SATC has a good one about the A.T. route history and Earl Shaffer's role in the major relocation completed in the 1950s.
You're likely thinking of the I-81 GN Wade Bridge, there are 6-1/2 intervening bridges between the Turnpike's and the Rockville. :)
Here are a couple of links from the SATC web site regarding the early 1950's relocation that put Duncannon on the trail: narrative (http://www.satc-hike.org/history.htm) , contemporary newsletter (http://www.satc-hike.org/bb2-1.pdf)
One thing I wish I had to put on there, is the pre-war guide description that emphasized that the Rockville Bridge was "no part of the Appalachian Trail." Then as now, crossing it as a pedestrian along with the very heavy rail traffic would verge between the extremely unpleasant and the suicidal.
Back then the guide had detailed instructions on which trolley to take on the one side to downtown Harrisburg, and which on the other. That wouldn't be yellow-blazing, maybe iron-blazing??
You're likely thinking of the I-81 GN Wade Bridge ...
I suppose you're right. Most A.T. hikers would get a better look at Rockville Bridge from the deck of the I-81 bridge.
That wouldn't be yellow-blazing, maybe iron-blazing??
Since it would have been the official route, I don't know what that would make it. There was likely no one who cared to argue about such things then and I don't see anything to be gained by starting an argument now.
Is it the oldest bridge used by the A.T.? I'll post a good link with images here before my editing privileges expire.
http://bridgehunter.com/pa/lebanon/waterville/ (http://bridgehunter.com/pa/lebanon/waterville/)
mweinstone
12-21-2010, 16:17
pa has people. the best trailfolk in town.from the philly hikers to the blue mountain eagle climbing club, from the village bakery folks in stroudsburg to the townspeople of duncanon and beyond. we have people. pa is where stuff starts. and finnishes. and our rocks keep the dummys out.
RailPictures.net (http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?offset=0&where=search%7C-2%7C-2%7CPennsylvania%2C+USA%7C%7C-2%7Crockville+bridge%7C15%7C2%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C %7C-2%7CPennsylvania%2C+USA%7C%7C-2%7C-2%7C%7C%7C15%7C-2%7C-2%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C%7C)
Click on the links below to view 3 images I selected.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=286050&nseq=25 (http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=286050&nseq=25)
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=37641&nseq=10 (http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=37641&nseq=10)
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=164041&nseq=15 (http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=164041&nseq=15)
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/8/5/2/6/000_0413_original.jpg
:D
[QUOTE=Cookerhiker;1072252]... Hiking northbound from Duncannon after you cross the bridge and ascend the ridge on the other (east) side, you walk for a few miles where you see the Susquehanna off to both the right and the left because of the river's twisting in an almost-360 degree circle.
/QUOTE]
That is such a great view, especially in winter. A few miles past that, there is a great view from the pipeline. On a clear day, you can see the smoke from the nuclear stacks at TMI.
While I heard some people complaining about the noise, I really enjoyed walking by Indiantown Gap Military Reservation. Got a free aerial show for about three hours. A-10's on training runs, and helicopters flying so low I could feel the wind off of their propellers. It enhanced my trail experience rather than took away from it.
HMS Facebook gallery image link (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hawk-Mountain-Sanctuary-Association/110550184788?ref=ts#!/photo.php?fbid=10150239631734789&set=a.138909499788.139027.110550184788&type=1&theater)
brian039
05-17-2011, 18:01
I don't always have nice things to say about the trail in PA, but the kindness of all the trail-angels and townsfolk got me through it in the end. All the towns were fun, the judge in Boiling Springs even paid my bar-tab at the tavern. Much love to Pat and Vicki, Tricks for providing water when it was needed most, and Stempka for being Stempka. It goes without saying that the PATC does a fine job on the trail, I feel sorry for the maintainers in Northern PA.
camojack
05-18-2011, 03:41
I don't always have nice things to say about the trail in PA, but the kindness of all the trail-angels and townsfolk got me through it in the end. All the towns were fun, the judge in Boiling Springs even paid my bar-tab at the tavern. Much love to Pat and Vicki, Tricks for providing water when it was needed most, and Stempka for being Stempka. It goes without saying that the PATC does a fine job on the trail, I feel sorry for the maintainers in Northern PA.
Thanks; maintaining those rocks gets to be hard work sometimes... ;)
I don't always have nice things to say about the trail in PA, but the kindness of all the trail-angels and townsfolk got me through it in the end. All the towns were fun, the judge in Boiling Springs even paid my bar-tab at the tavern. Much love to Pat and Vicki, Tricks for providing water when it was needed most, and Stempka for being Stempka. It goes without saying that the PATC, Mountain Club of Maryland, Cumberland Valley A.T. Club, York Hiking Club, Susquehanna A.T. Club, Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club, Allentown Hiking Club, Philadelphia Trail Club, AMC Delaware Valley Chapter, Batona Hiking Club and Wilmington Trail Club do a fine job on the trail, I feel sorry for the maintainers in Northern PA.
Fixed it for you....:)
brian039
05-18-2011, 19:05
Thanks; maintaining those rocks gets to be hard work sometimes... ;)
Ha ha! I can imagine, what's even more unbelievable is how you guys keep them sharpened and manage to get them turned from being pointed towards NOBO's to SOBO's so quickly!
my memories of Pa. without going into the obvious. saw and nearly stepped two huge rattlers within a mile of each other near the shelter south of 501. The 501 shelter, the one maybe 10 miles or so past the Pinnacle, etc....really Pa. has the best shelters by far on the trail. ... Absolutely great people and great towns...Duncannon, Palmerton, Boiling Springs, the candy store in Port Clinton, etc and always trail magic throughout. Bag O' Tricks let me have several chews of his tobacco and I tried to pay him for it...thought he was going to kick my rear end for that. And, finally a few flat and easy trail miles through the valley there. Pennsylvania rocks.;) All the trail maintainers there get a well-deserved "attaboy".
So many great places and memories from PA. First of corse there is good old Lehigh Gap.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_zCGfWJz2gtg/ST1C6yaJJGI/AAAAAAAAAPw/BrQgip-z29c/s400/P1010115.JPG
The Nature PA allowed me to see.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_zCGfWJz2gtg/THNkYCTEZII/AAAAAAAACBc/sZABL8tq4AA/s400/P8210028.JPG
The Secret Cave at the pinnacle is always a fun place to take a break.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_zCGfWJz2gtg/THNkIDeiAsI/AAAAAAAAB-U/B3Mj_4fSGaA/s400/DSCN0249.JPG
but the thing that always takes the cake for PA is the great people that hike here.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_zCGfWJz2gtg/S3TQHpScHEI/AAAAAAAAAxY/E6t226PhgKM/s400/Breakfast.JPG
Cookerhiker
05-20-2011, 15:07
Let's not forget Trail Angel Mary and all she does for hikers and the Trail.
I feel sorry for the maintainers in Northern PA.
Why? I will never get people who come here to visit on foot burdened by their expectations. Theirs must be a heavy load to bear.
A.T. hikers should wrap their minds around what the trail offers, instead of their expectations. Were these poor souls plagued by self-imposed unhappiness to open their minds to the beauty all around them, they would enjoy themselves more.
Didn't intend to go there with this thread, but all attempts to do otherwise seem to go the same place.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/8/5/2/6/000_0413_original.jpg
:D
Love this photo. It gives "fond" memories of my trip through Pennsylvania!
Go ahead, explain if you would what's awesome about the image. Since contributors insist upon reposting it, maybe we should provide the history lesson goes along with it. Then readers might see this monument and its builders for what they are.
Were it a simple matter involving only obtaining use of a truck and a few weekends of labor, I'd love to see that eyesore hauled off The Pinnacle and converted into something useful. Take only pictures and leave only footprints, right?
long island bob
05-25-2011, 16:55
While I heard some people complaining about the noise, I really enjoyed walking by Indiantown Gap Military Reservation. Got a free aerial show for about three hours. A-10's on training runs, and helicopters flying so low I could feel the wind off of their propellers. It enhanced my trail experience rather than took away from it.
Trivia
- Earl Shaffer HIMSELF helped move the trail farther north of the Ft. Indiantown Gap artillery range.
- In his day th AT used to have a theoretical nonexistant crossing of the Susquehanna at Marysville PA (Rockville Bridge) and then skirted perilously close to the artillery range. He did not like either aspect and personally worked to move the trail further north.
- I used to live in Marysville, right on the Sus. so close to the Rockville bridge that the trains would make ya turn up the tv volume.
- The Rockville Bridge area has some of the best small mouth bass fishing in the entire US. The main season runs June 18 through Oct. 31, size limit is 12 inches, catch limit is 6.
This year's Fish-for-Free Days (http://www.fish.state.pa.us/fishforfree.htm) are Memorial Day and Labor Day. The timing might be perfect for an early Southbounder who like bass fishing.
long island bob
05-25-2011, 18:02
This year's Fish-for-Free Days (http://www.fish.state.pa.us/fishforfree.htm) are Memorial Day and Labor Day. The timing might be perfect for an early Southbounder who like bass fishing.
Huh. I didn't know.
Truly though. If you are a fisherman, and if you are passing through PA in the right season, then take a side-trip from Duncannon to Marysville and fish your heart out. It's worth it.
If you're a non-fisherman, well keep walking, try not to let the rocks bother you too much. Take a zero at the Doyle Hotel and enjoy adn enjoy the terrain that is no longer up-and-down but is instead known for its sharp rocks.
(LOL I recall from Earl Shaffer's book that when he reached Harrisburg he took boarded a country bus, and took his boots to a boot repair shop.)
Aww history.
I should hike more and post less.
long island bob
05-25-2011, 18:04
Oh the aforementioned post applies to early-risers only. Then again, bass fishermen know that. (I catch the same number of fish before 7 am as I do the rest of the day.)
T
- Earl Shaffer HIMSELF helped move the trail farther north of the Ft. Indiantown Gap artillery range.
See http://www.satc-hike.org/history.htm
Right now the only real local outfitter in the Hbg metro is the paddling one in the former Marysville rail station, http://www.bluemountainoutfitters.net/