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 usual. Most of the trail stayed up on the ridge, offering views of the surrounding landscape.
The designated shelter areas presented both advantages and disadvantages. While they provided a reliable source of water through hand well pumps, the water sometimes contained iron, affecting the taste. The placement of the shelter areas required two days of over ten miles of hiking, influencing our itinerary.
The Highlands Market, located midway along the trail, served as a delightful respite from backpacking food, offering a chance to recharge phones and enjoy a variety of provisions. Cell service was available at all sites except for the Ohiopyle shelter area. Connectivity was limited to text and calls, and data connection was spotty.
Taking advantage of the firewood provided at most shelter areas, we enjoyed cozy campfires on a couple of nights, including the first night, when we savored hot dogs cooked over the open fire. The location of the Wilderness Voyageurs outfitter at the end of the trail was convenient, allowing us to take a refreshing hot shower before the drive home.
Overall, the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail provided a memorable and enjoyable backpacking experience, with its scenic views, well-maintained shelters, and opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation.
As we journeyed southward, the forest transformed itself from a vibrant tapestry of towering oak trees to the delicate grace of beech trees and finally culminated in the majestic tulip poplars. Occasionally, we would encounter a stand of stately hemlocks, their evergreen branches reaching towards the heavens. This year, the forest had been blessed with an exceptional crop of acorns, and the occasional resounding bang of an acorn dropping onto the shelter roofs served as a unique symphony of nature.
Chipmunks were the predominant wildlife we encountered, their tiny bodies darting amongst the fallen leaves. However, the highlight of our hike came in the form of an unexpected encounter with a porcupine. Bob and I had seen evidence of porcupines on our previous hikes, but this was our first time seeing one in person. The large, lumbering creature waddled across the path, its sharp quills glistening in the sunlight.
As is typical for our weekday, off-season hikes, we encountered very few people on the trail. The exception to this solitude was the weekend, when the forest trails would come alive with the laughter and chatter of hikers and nature enthusiasts.
This last post was helped along by Google AI to elaborate my words.
