Take The High Way II (aka: Under Western Skies)

 We took a return exploratory trip up to check out the recent timber workings along the old power line:

The clearcutting added a bit of "western sky" character to the immediate area, with some nice westward panorama. That cliff band noticeable along the skyline (photo right) is the 'Foley's Wall' outcrop with relevance to rock climbing

Connect with the old power line trail

If ya' look about ya' may find an old remnant power pole and insulator or two

The once excellent trail followed a bit narrow saddleback ridgecrest. The westerly-facing slope of the ridge drops off steeply for about 800ft, flanking the Yough River valley. For about a mile and a half ya' had a pretty nice overlooking view of the river valley and opposite flanking "Great Allegheny Anticline", as we've always heard it termed here locally. No idea where or how that originated. The trail rolled and dropped in elevation for the distance back down into the "saddle gap" hollow. The northern crest is composed of a jumble of large sandstone boulders forming the "light side and dark side" bouldering field simply termed 'The Ridge', with relevance to rock climbing.

We came across this contraption while out and about. We're guessing it's some type of bat protecting or capture device capping an old abandoned mine air vent. The entire area is underlain by the large 'Casparis' limestone tunnel mine. The steel box was completely welded shut (some nice welds). The interior floor was steel grate similar to the exterior walls. Below the floor was an open hole dropping off into darkness.... ???

May find some unique fossils as well if ya' keep your eyes open. Here's an excellent Sigillaria bark from around 300 million years ago. Found last Friday. Cool stuff.

Did a return, solely MTB, trip on Saturday:

Some beaver activity up at the pond

Dug our boy 'Brother Howie' out of the mothballs for this trip...

... he's still out crankin' the long steeps...

... and short steep technicals... good work!

Our prerequisite for a classic MTB trail - gotta' be a loop, first half steep to ridgrtop rolling to long downhill return. More technical the better. Six miles +. Average distance speed 3 to 6mph. Chance of drawing some blood 100%.

Take The High Way

 Recently broke out the fat tires after about a year hiatus.

Hadn't been up along the ridge since last winter. Right off the bat we discovered that they forever ruined a once great long, steep technical hill climb. Don't know the why or reason behind this "improvement". The millennial highway. Take the money and run we guess: 

Approximately one-half mile, 400ft relief. Was always a great right-off-the-bat warm up to the miles of ridgeline and hollows beyond. Always varying conditions depending upon the measure of seasonal weathering combined with the off-road traffic spaced between sporadic bouts of light maintenance. Top climb rate back in the day, level bottom to level top, (unofficially) clocked at eight minutes. Personal best was eleven minutes.

The timber company did us a big favor, however. Put in a nice MTB spur off the main line coincidental to performing some upkeep on a heavy storm and strong wind damaged ridge line occurrence from a year back. We'd have been all over that steep hill climb thirty-five years ago - battling it out with the 'Good-man', Strongman Matt and Brother Howie to claim first climb of that thing.

Includes a very nice and very steep downhill drop ta' boot.

Needs a bit of trail maintenance as it proceeds out along the ridge.

High road.

Low Road.

Nice view out across the hollow along the way - especially this time of year. Maybe a bit over a mile total over the ridge top.

Eventually ties into the south end of the long ago abandoned but once favorite "Old Powerline Trail". This trail was closed off sometime in the mid '90's by the property owner because of constant abuse by four wheelers and a few incidents of trash dumping.

Late afternoon viewing the ridgeline from back along the main road.