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…
2024 Appalachian Trail – Epilogue
Connecticut and Massachusetts First note – Bob’s photos have been added to the appropriate days. If you do not want to go back through each day, his photos are posted in this update. Another 68 miles of the Appalachian Trail completed. Many lessons learned on this trip. The heat caused us some re-planning to shorten…