... basically a 70 mile, mostly single track "foot trail" that follows the rugged crest of 'Laurel Ridge', extending from 'Ohiopyle State Park' to the 'Conemaugh River Gorge' located in 'Johnstown, PA'...
... here's a trail elevation profile, copied and scanned from the official 'Hikers Guide to the Laurel Highlands Trail', available from the 'Western Pennsylvania Conservancy'...
(Goodman photo)
... here's a pretty cool spot overlooking the 'Youghiogheny River' far below - that's Rob Goodman in one of his several photos we're "swiping"... this is probably around mile two heading north from 'Ohiopyle' - the first six to ten miles miles are definitely the most "spectacular" with regard to "rugged grandeur" - you're ascending the ridge along the north flank of the 'Yough River Gorge' ... pretty steep in spots... have personally hiked the entire trail twice - Ohiopyle to 'Laurel Mountain' (Rt 30) a bunch - Ohiopyle to 'Rt 31' many times - Ohiopyle to 'Rt. 653' a ton - Ohiopyle to the 'Lick Run Shelters' (first six miles) too many times to count...
... mostly with this "chick" - up 'till now no one ever knew this (including her) , but she was "bitten" on the bottom of the foot by a young, baby 'Copperhead' snake once while hiking! ...
... the story...
... so we're camped out at the 'Lick Run Shelters' - got there quick this day, around noon (think we were headin' to Rt 30 overall - three day fun trip) - she comes limping back (shoeless) from retrieving water at the shelter area water pump, and she's all concerned - "I think I just got bit by a snake!" - said she stepped on it and the saw it afterward - I take a look at the bottom of her foot, just below the big toe - see two perfect fang marks about 3/8 inch apart - a small snake - think to myself "Sh*t, now what" - and this is one paranoid babe when it comes to snakes - asked her (actually had to make her - she wanted to turn around and head back to the car) to step over a large blacksnake we encountered along the trail a few trips earlier - finally did so after about a half hour of coaxing - then BAM! - couldn't keep up with her for about half a mile - thought I was gonna' have to slug her to get her to calm down before she finally did... so there's no way I'm telling her she did indeed get bit this instance.. "it hurts!.. it hurts!!"... luckily, the campsite is packed this day, and the 'Park Service' crew is there stocking firewood - so we're good to go if an emergency - I even walked over and mentioned it to the the guys... "Don't look like a snakebite to me - I think ya' just stepped on some thorns!" I tell her... she subsequently showed no symptoms of snake bite poisoning, and that was that - she limped around a bit that evening but was good to go the next morning...
... a few years later heard that a another girl got bit by a copperhead at the very spot!! - the ground is always wet around those pumps so I'm sure the critters use the source as much as the hikers...
... considering that it is the middle of May and they're becoming active, here's a few good links to information on "Pit Vipers"...
http://ectotherms.net/kyherpsoc/copperheadob.htm
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/copperhead.htm
http://www.snake-removal.com/copperhead.html
... so back to the trail - here's a nice stream and open woods (typical) - don't recall where...
... here's some nice boulders and open woods (typical) - don't recall where...
... here's one of the (typical) Shelter Areas (campground) at 'Lick Run - why is there a tent pitched inside?...
... the story...
... will have to admit - she was a tough girl - she would put up with being awaken in the open 'Lean-To' in the middle of the night by small 'shelter mice' nibbling on her scalp, or worse, a giant spider or two crawling across her bare shoulder, but this was ultimately too much ...around 2am this night - we're both sound asleep - a "wild animal" begins snarling directly below the floor of the 'Lean-To' where we're sleepin'! (and we got the whole campground to ourselves this night - no one to here you scream) - feel her tense up!! - second later, another animal!!! - she tenses further!!!! - a few seconds more and it's an all out battle between wild animals!!!!! - snarling and growling and bangin' against the floor of the shelter from below!!!!!! - BOOM!!!!!!! - she's out of the sleeping bag and out of the shelter and runnin' for her life through the woods in total pitch black - and no clothes (other than underwear) 'ta boot!!!!!!!! - can't believe she didn't run right in to a tree!!!!!!!! - finally caught her - I had the flashlight - but no calming her down this time - had to put up the tent or she's "headin' back to the car" - she laughed about it next day, however...
04/18: Looked under the shelter floor in the morning - nothing there, but there was a small dug trench leading underneath - somethin' was making a home there - a few weekends later was on the trail with her brother - we saw a large groundhog emerge from the dug entrance...
(Goodman photo)
... by the way - those are old 'external frame' backpacks in all the photos - don't know if they still even make 'em - that tent inside the shelter in the previous photo is from an old 'Sears Roebuck Backpacking Package' - made by some company named 'Sunshine' - ya' got a 'self-standing two-person tent' (one of the first), backpack, sleeping bag, aluminum cook set and some other stuff for $99!! - high tech in those days - add some leather boots and you're off...
(Goodman photo)
... the old trail bridge over the 'PA Turnpike' - they've since recently replaced it...
... may have posted this photo before - a five year old 'buddy Matt' at the 'Bidwell Overlook'...
(Goodman photo)
... the big guy himself - mile 70...
(Internet image)
... last thought - if you're anywhere along the ridge after dark - full moon preferable - winter all the better - do yourself a favor and go 'Owl-ing' - very cool creatures - got a large 'Bard (Hoot) Owl'
to buzz within' a foot or two one night - they don't even "stir the air'... the original 'Stealth Bomber'....
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