 |  | In This Issue: - Taking a Stroll Along the Black Moshannon
- To the Top of Tussey Mountain in Shingletown Gap
- The Fall of a Hiking Icon and BPA
- Hiking on the Web - Loyalsock Trail and the Alpine Club of Williamsport
- Announcements - Hiking Organizations & Outing Clubs
- Deal of the Month - Squishy Bowls by Guyot Designs
|  | Taking a Stroll Along the Black Moshannon
This was a perfect hike for an early spring evening. With only a few hours of daylight left in the day for hiking, we decided to do this flat hike on the Shingle Mill Trail in Black Moshannon State Park. Just a little under 4 miles in length, this hike gave us plenty of opportunities to see some beautiful areas along the Black Moshannon creek.
The Shingle Mill Trail is part of the cross connector of the Allegheny Front Trail. The trail is blazed blue and follows the western banks of the Black Moshannon creek. The Shingle Mill Trail connects the Black Moshannon State Park with the orange-blazed AFT. Our hike was only on the southern half of the Shingle Mill Trail, where we crossed the Black Mo on Huckleberry Road, and road walked back to the trailhead.
[LINK TO TRIP REPORT AND PHOTOS] |  | | | To the Top of Tussey Mountain in Shingletown Gap
The Ridge and Valley Outings Club is a local hiking club that organizes and leads hikes on local trails every week from April till October. Typically hikes are done on Tuesday evenings, but this hike was done on a Thursday evening. Being early in the year, and the fact that the hikes don't start till 6:00PM, this was a shorter hike so that we could finish before dark.
The hike was in the Shingletown Gap area. This is a very popular place for hikes because of the many trails and the close proximity to State College and is a favorite of mine as well. Last year I didn't do a single hike in Shingletown Gap and I didn't want to make the same mistake this year. When I heard that the RVOC was going to be doing a short but strenuous hike at Shingletown, I signed up for the outing.
[LINK TO TRIP REPORT AND PHOTOS] |  | | | The Fall of a Hiking Icon and BPA
When I stop for a short rest during my hikes I typically reach for my large mouthed Nalgene bottle. Nearly indestructible, this "friend" has been on almost every hike I've done, and has taken more tumbles on the trail than I have. Not only has this hiking staple carried water for quenching my thirst on strenuous hikes, but it has also carried other beverages as well as being a heater at the bottom of my sleeping bag during colder weather.
Recently it was discovered that the chemical monomer used to make these polycarbonate plastic bottles, the same chemical that imparts clarity, strength, and heat resistance, may be hazardous to our health. Bisphenol-A is a chemical monomer that reacts with itself to form long chains, or polymers. This polymer is polycarbonate plastic. During the manufacturing process of this plastic some of the unreacted BPA remains and can possibly leach out of the plastic at high temperatures.
It is because of this possible leaching, and the recently discovered fact that very low levels of BPA may pose a health risk, that Nalgene has decided to phase out production of these hiking icons. Soon you will no longer be able to purchase these indestructible carriers of water. The debate on the risks of BPA are far from over, but one thing seems certain, the wide-mouth Nalgene bottle may no longer be helping to quench my thirst during my hikes.
[LEARN MORE ABOUT NALGENE BOTTLES AND BPA] |  | | | Hiking on the Web - Loyalsock Trail and the Alpine Club of Williamsport
Our hike on the web this month takes us to the website of the Loyalsock Trail and the Alpine Club of Williamsport.
The Alpine Club was formed in 1953 as a way of maintaining the newly formed Loyalsock Trail (LT). Today the club still maintains the LT through a series of work hikes in the spring, but also has monthly hikes in Northeastern and Northcentral Pennsylvania throughout the entire year.
The Loyalsock Trail (LT), is a footpath which begins on PA Route 87 and ends at the parking lot on Meade Road. Entrance to Meade Road is 2.4 miles north of the intersection of Routes 220 and 154 near Laporte. The LT follows mountain ridges and streams through the Loyalsock watershed as it travels through the woods on footpaths, old logging roads and abandoned railroad grades. It passes through parts of the Tiadaghton and Wyoming State Forests for most of it's 59.21 miles. The extremes of elevation are 665' to 2140'.
[VISIT THE LOYALSOCK TRAIL WEBSITE] |  | | | Announcements - Hiking Organizations & Outing Clubs
April 25-27 , 2008: KTA Trail Care Standing Stone Trail
Stay at Getty Ridge Camp. Contact Mel Cooper (814-599-1548) if you are interested in helping out. More information at www.kta-hike.org.
May 9-11 , 2008: KTA Trail Care Chuck Keiper Trail
Camp at Coon Run Road at the old CCC Camp. Contact Rich Scanlon (717-994-6212) to sign up. More information at www.kta-hike.org.
Do you or your hiking organization or outing club have information that you'd like to share? Planning a trip, fund raiser, or future trail maintenance? Then let the "Go Take A Hike" e-Newsletter help.
Submit your announcements to webmaster@pahikes.com. We will post all announcements here each month for everyone to see.
[SUBMIT YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS TO THE WEBMASTER] | | | Deal of the Month - Squishy Bowls by Guyot Designs
We've decided to extend this deal for another month. Squishy Bowls by Guyot Designs make it easy to pack eating utensils for on the trail. Collapsible for easy packing, yet made to retain their shape, these bowls are perfect for hot and cold foods on-the-go. Made of flexible food grade silicone. Temperature resistant to 400˚F. Easy clean-up – hand wash using soap and water. A set of bowl (16 ounce) and cup (6 ounce) are available in 4 different colors: Blue, Tomato, Lime, and Slate.
Until the end of May you can get a free Light My Fire Spork with every set of Squishy Bowls ordered. The Light My Fire Spork is not only a spoon and a fork in one handy utensil, it's a knife as well. One end is the spoon; the other features a four-tine fork and knife with serrated edge on one tine. These sporks are made of a durable, heat-resistant material. Dishwasher-safe and won't harm nonstick cooking surfaces.
No coupon code required. Just be a "Go Take A Hike" subscriber and purchase a Squishy Bowl set by Guyot Designs and we'll throw in a free Light My Fire Spork.
Only one coupon/coupon code per order. Some coupons can only be used once. Other restrictions may apply. This exclusive Deal of the Month offer is only valid for "Go Take A Hike" e-Newsletter subscribers.
[GET YOUR SQUISHY BOWLS AND SPORK AT THE HIKING SPOT] |  | | | | |
The Hiking Spot
153 Long St.
Spring Mills, PA 16875
(814) 414-0253
webmaster@pahikes.com
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