Continuing the NOBO LASH, this 26.9-mile section of trail spans between Caledonia State Park and Pine Grove Rd. which is approximately 7 miles north of Ironmasters Mansion on the AT, and took two days to complete.
Temperatures for both mornings improved over previous days, reaching 30’s and low 40’s. Very few people were encountered on this section of trail – 3 hikers in total, and no day hikers.
There are 4 shelters along this section of trail (Quarry Gap, Birch Run, Toms Run, and James Fry). Each is as unique as Frank Lloyd Wright could have imagined. The architecture (and placement of) was creative, fun, and in one case, even feisty as gnomes were placed around the Quarry Gap site.
Of particular interest was seeing the oldest location (that we know of) of the physical halfway point of the AT (1090.5 miles), which is not far after Toms Run Shelter. The halfway mark seems to move each year, due to trail relocations. Another halfway mark was found before the previously mentioned location, marking that point as 1097.15 miles in 2022. There is ‘trail chatter’ that there will be a new halfway point for 2024 (1098.7 miles).
There was a beautiful section with Rhododendron on both sides of the trail leading up to Quarry Gap Shelter – an example of the ‘green tunnel’.
Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable hike over the course of two days, with scant few views that were awe inspiring.
Be sure to visit the Pennsylvania Gallery!