16 – 23 September Destination: LHHT Northern Terminus (MM 70.1)Start Location: LHHT Southern Terminus (MM 0.0)Trip Miles: 70.1 The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail offered an exceptional September hiking experience, despite encountering a day and a night of rain. The water posed no challenges, and the terrain provided a welcome change with less elevation change than…
2024 Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) – Day 8
Monday – 23 September Destination: LHHT Southern Terminus (MM 0.0)Start Location: Ohiopyle Shelter Area (MM 6.3)Today’s Miles: 6.3Trip Miles: 70.1 Last night when we had dinner with Brian, Bob and I asked if he had a map. Brian had printed one at home but there were none at the trail start. I gave him my…
2024 Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) – Day 7
Sunday – 22 September Destination: Ohiopyle Shelter Area (MM 6.3)Start Location: RT. 653 Shelter Area (MM 18.5)Today’s Miles: 12.2Trip Miles: 63.8 Sorry for the late update. No cell service tonight. First night with no service. Another DCNR ranger came by last night to check our reservation. He spoke with a group camping outside the designated…
2024 Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) – Day 6
Saturday – 21 September Destination: RT. 653 Shelter Area (MM 18.5)Start Location: Grindle Ridge Shelter Area (MM 24.0)Today’s Miles: 5.5Trip Miles: 51.6 Cell service not strong enough for photos today. Last night the DCNR, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources stopped by our campsite and chatted for a while. The ladies in the shelter built…
2024 Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) – Day 5
Friday – 20 September Destination: Grindle Ridge Shelter Area (MM 24.0)Start Location: Turnpike Shelter Area (MM 38.2)Today’s Miles: 14.2Trip Miles: 46.1 Important stuff first – photos were uploaded up to noon today. You need to go back to each day to see them. Porcupine photos! Bob and I were awake early trying to get a…
2024 Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) – Day 4
Thursday – 19 September Destination: Turnpike Shelter Area (MM 38.2)Start Location: RT. 30 Shelter Area (MM 46.5)Today’s Miles: 8.3Trip Miles: 31.9 Last night after we crawled in our tents I heard an owl in the distance. When I got out of the tent at 11:30 the moon glowed bright and clear. Bob and I awoke…
2024 Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) – Day 3
Wednesday – 18 September Destination: RT. 30 Shelter Area (MM 46.5)Start Location: RT. 271 Shelter Area (MM 56.9)Today’s Miles: 10.4Trip Miles: 23.6 There was a very light rain overnight starting about 1:30 but ending before Bob and I got up at six. We thought we had made it through but the day was mostly light…
2024 Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) – Day 2
Tuesday – 17 September Destination: RT. 271 Shelter Area (MM 56.9)Start Location: RT. 56 Shelter Area (MM 64.9)Today’s Miles: 8.0Trip Miles: 13.2 No one came into camp. Nearly a full moon last night. Good sleeping weather, 56 overnight. Bob and I were awake at 6:00 before sunrise. We made coffee, instant, and had our breakfast….
2024 Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) – Day 1
Monday – 16 September Destination: RT. 56 Shelter Area (MM 64.9)Start Location: LHHT Northern Terminus (MM 70.1)Today’s Miles: 5.2Trip Miles: 5.2 Bob and I were up early, made coffee in the room and relaxed a little before heading out for breakfast. Our first stop at a coffee shop struck out since there were no breakfast…
2024 Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) – Day 0
Sunday – 15 September The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail is a 70-mile hiking trail that stretches along Laurel Mountain from the picturesque Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle State Park to the Conemaugh Gorge near Johnstown. Bob and I will be hiking from north (Conemaugh Gorge) to south (Ohiopyle). Camping is only allowed at designated shelter areas…