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JadedFan
03-13-2012, 12:06
I am 43 years old and have decided that I need to make some changes in my life. I want to slow things down. Ina effort to do that I am trying to make a return to simpler things like hunting, fishing, and camping. I used to be very active in the outdoors in my youth and early adulthood.

I have three children here at home and two of them are old enough to start enjoying the outdoors. They are 11 (daughter) and 10 (son). We live in SE PA and I was thinking about a short trip on the AT. I myself have not been on the AT in about 10 years. The last time was a section from Hamburg, PA to the Pinnacle and back down.

I no longer know where to enter in our area or where to exit for that matter. I am hoping to jog my memory with some folks familiar with the PA sections of the trail and listen to advice. I feel like this is my first foray into the woods even though it is not. Encouragement is appreciated. I could use it right about now.

Datto
03-13-2012, 13:49
You might look at Boiling Springs to Duncannon -- there are shuttles available there that would allow you to park your car at one end, get a rid to the other end of the stretch you're intending to hike, and then hike back to the car. Plus, it's close to where you live so the drive is going to be as short as possible and the terrain won't be all that difficult compared to other parts of the Trail.

Datto

Spokes
03-13-2012, 14:04
Would an online map of the PA section of the AT help? Try THIS LINK (http://rhodesmill.org/thefox/maps/at3.jpg).

Here's also an Appalachian Trail Distance Calculator (http://www.atdist.com/) to help you with planning.

Cheers

JadedFan
03-13-2012, 14:10
Thanks to Datto and Spokes! I am looking into the links now!

max patch
03-13-2012, 14:22
[QUOTE=JadedFan;1266541
I no longer know where to enter in our area or where to exit for that matter. [/QUOTE]

The PA Guidebook sold by the ATC (or most outfitters) will give trailhead access info as well as info about the sections.

flemdawg1
03-13-2012, 14:26
Google map of the trail.
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/hiking/find-a-hike/interactive-map

JadedFan
03-13-2012, 14:40
Using Spokes' calculator, that looks like a 3 - 4 day trip with kids. I can probably do in 2 - 3. Not trying to kill myself. Thoughts?

JadedFan
03-13-2012, 14:41
You might look at Boiling Springs to Duncannon -- there are shuttles available there that would allow you to park your car at one end, get a rid to the other end of the stretch you're intending to hike, and then hike back to the car. Plus, it's close to where you live so the drive is going to be as short as possible and the terrain won't be all that difficult compared to other parts of the Trail.

Datto

Using Spokes' calculator, that looks like a 3 - 4 day trip with kids. I can probably do in 2 - 3. Not trying to kill myself. Thoughts?

buff_jeff
03-13-2012, 14:55
Even though you've been through this section, I always find that parking overnight at the Hamburg Reservoir is the safest place, and also the closest to Southeast PA.

Call the Hamburg Borough Office at 610-562-7821 to arrange overnight parking.

There really aren't any good 2-3 day loop hikes on the AT in PA, though. You could check out the Black Forest Trail, and both the Quehanna and Loyalsock Trails are longer but have good parking/shuttle options.

JadedFan
03-14-2012, 05:59
Even though you've been through this section, I always find that parking overnight at the Hamburg Reservoir is the safest place, and also the closest to Southeast PA.

Call the Hamburg Borough Office at 610-562-7821 to arrange overnight parking.

There really aren't any good 2-3 day loop hikes on the AT in PA, though. You could check out the Black Forest Trail, and both the Quehanna and Loyalsock Trails are longer but have good parking/shuttle options.

Thinking about hiking from Hamburg Reservoir up through Windsor Furnace, Pulpit Rock, Pinnacle and finishing at either Blue Mountain Summit or Bake Oven Knob. Just not sure if there is a good exit point there. Might have to modify the plan. I am not familiar with the other trails you mentioned. Can you provide start and end points?

buff_jeff
03-14-2012, 10:53
Thinking about hiking from Hamburg Reservoir up through Windsor Furnace, Pulpit Rock, Pinnacle and finishing at either Blue Mountain Summit or Bake Oven Knob. Just not sure if there is a good exit point there. Might have to modify the plan. I am not familiar with the other trails you mentioned. Can you provide start and end points?

PA 309 runs right over Blue Mountain Summit and there is a restaurant with a huge parking lot there. I'm sure you could call them and ask for overnight parking. Here is their phone number: (877) 386-2003

Bake Oven Knob has a parking area below the actual knob, but it's a small, secondary access road to get to it, and I don't know about overnight parking there. Bake Oven Knob has some pretty bad graffiti going on also, so I'd be wary of parking there long-term based on that.

There is also parking farther north by the Lehigh Gap, but I don't know how safe the parking is there.

Black Forest Trail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Forest_Trail)

Loyalsock Trail (http://www.lycoming.org/alpine/)

Quehanna Trail (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/recreation/hiking/stateforesttrails/quehannatrail/index.htm)

JadedFan
03-14-2012, 10:58
PA 309 runs right over Blue Mountain Summit and there is a restaurant with a huge parking lot there. I'm sure you could call them and ask for overnight parking. Here is their phone number: (877) 386-2003

Bake Oven Knob has a parking area below the actual knob, but it's a small, secondary access road to get to it, and I don't know about overnight parking there. Bake Oven Knob has some pretty bad graffiti going on also, so I'd be wary of parking there long-term based on that.

There is also parking farther north by the Lehigh Gap, but I don't know how safe the parking is there.

Black Forest Trail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Forest_Trail)

Loyalsock Trail (http://www.lycoming.org/alpine/)

Quehanna Trail (http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/recreation/hiking/stateforesttrails/quehannatrail/index.htm)

Thanks to all for your suggestions. The Blue Mountain Summit sounds like a plan. Going to order some maps today or tomorrow. Need to inventory what I still have. See what works and what needs to be replaced. The kids seem stoked for this, but I am trying to keep realistic goals.