... following a 'PA Gameland' access road, 'Zebley Flats' is a pretty decent hill climb for the first two miles with an elevation gain of around 750ft, ascending thru the serene 'Limestone Run' stream hollow, then another two miles of rolling terrain along the same to some "track and a half" which takes ya' thru the "Zebley Flats' area - total elevation gain around 890ft in four miles (blue route on the above map) - reverse the trip for some fast downhill on the return... the redline route extension above is an alternate downhill track if ya' want to make a loop of it - the extension follows the old trail that was pathway for 'Betty Knox' when leading her oxen into the mountains - it descends past "Bettys" old spring and thru her old pasture, across 'Dunbar Creek' and back to the parking area - we used to maintain it (somewhat) - haven't been on it for over fifteen years so don't know what kind of condition it's currently in - sketched it in from memory so it's not gonna' be real accurate... that adjacent small drainage descending the hollow is pretty cool as well - carved and cascades it's way thru the limestone rock outcrops...
... here's a trail profile - flip it "180" for the ride back..
... typical conditions until ya' reach 'Zebly Flats' and head into the woods - the 'Game Commission' added many drainage improvements so it stays pretty dry - almost like riding on pavement...
... 'Limestone Run'...
... and a small waterfall...
... 'Howie' giving 'Tim' some competition with some 'rock balancing' of his own...
... another angel - not bad work...
... there's a maze of large sandstone blocks up at the 'Flats', known as 'Rebecca Rocks' to climbers...
... 'Howie' for scale...
... pretty nice area - lots of rock up there...
... noticed that someone added a bolted "sport route"...
... today we added the 'Lambie Rocks' route "for more fun" - it's the yellow route on the above map...
... 'Limestone Run' again - beautiful area'...
... more 'rock balancing' by Howie - think Tim's got 'em hooked - this is the 'Wingsuit Flyer' ready for takeoff...
... a long hillclimb - 'Howie' far ahead...
... by the time I caught up he had created another "sculpture" - a nice "abstract" - it's still there...
... a bit later - "back to nature" and beginning the unimproved climb to 'Lambie Rocks...
... and back to reality - steep, washed, muddy and soft...
... what a "crank"- we both had to eventually pay our respects to 'Rob Goodman' who used to routinely bust this out "back in the day" - that was one "tough dude"...
... 'Howie' opening up an old drainage ditch that had been clogged and was dumpin' a lot of water down the trail...
... last of the steep...
... before reaching 'Lambie Rocks' - pretty cool area with more rock than ya' think - we got quite a few old routes on those walls...
... probably a lot more 'ta do buried under all the moss we bet (as I recall there are two nice cracks up there that we never got around to on gear)...
... this narrow "slot" between the sandstone blocks has to be the coolest of all, however - the giant roots are right out of 'Sir Arthur Conan Doyle'... 'Professor Howie Challenger' for scale...
... cool stuff...
... you'd expect to get snatched by a giant lizard around each bend...
... some great downhill on the return...
... 'Howie' had to construct one more balance on the return - Tim would be proud of this one - some large stones and was rockin' in the slight breeze...
... first reptile of the year - a giant 'Anaconda' - had to be at least 12ft long!!!...
... another "crowd pleaser" - always admired this large Hemlock that long ago anchored itself to this large sandstone boulder...
... back at 'Betty Knox Park' and checkin' out 'Dunbar Creek' before headin' out for a few beers... pretty good day!...
... so who is (or was) 'Betty Knox' ya' ask?...
(... swiped from the internet...)
... found this old rusted horseshoe while descending the 'red trail' (see the map) long ago - found it setting on an old stump - figured that it was off of one of 'Betty's' animals - has long been proudly displayed at the 'homestead"...
