LHHT – Part 2
It was around this same time last year that I happened upon a hiking trail, that according to the trail sign was 70 miles, running from Seward near Johnstown to Ohiopyle. Enter the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail or LHHT. Little did I know on that morning that it would quickly turn into one of the best hikes i’ve ever had. https://www.slb-photography.net/laurel-ridge-state-park/ When I got home that day I went in search for info on this trail and I found lots. With that in mind, I decided to head back to hit another section of the trail not to far from where I originally found it. This time I knew exactly where I was going. I dropped in from the Maple Summit trailhead. Well the parking area is off of Jersey Hollow Rd. The forecast called for rain, which I was excited for. I had hoped for the thick fog that I had last time, but no such luck. I headed south. The forest was mostly quiet, except for the wind that brushed through the trees. Spring was awake. I saw many ferns unfurling, they are fuzzy to the touch. I also saw spring trilliums that have bloomed. They were white with red edges. About a mile or so into the hike I came upon Little Glade Run. It was a lovely forest stream. I hung around here for a bit making photographs and listening to the sound of the rushing water. It started to rain at this point, I got to try out my new rain jacket, I’ve been eagerly waiting for this moment. Rain off and on, I made my way back to the trail where I ran into three thru-hikers. They said today was their ‘fast’ day. A quick hello and they were gone. The forest brightened up again as the rains past and the birds started to come out. They sounded playful with their chirps. I leisurely climbed. Felt like I had been climbing forever when I made it to the highest point of the hike, or so my GPS said. I decided to relax a bit on the rock out crops and have some lunch. At this point the sky darkened again and rain began. I was trying to decide should I keep going? I was only about a mile or so out from Ohiopyle and really wanted to hike to the trail end. But I decided to turn around and make my way back. I wasn’t sure if thunder was coming (as I had heard the night before) and my back and knees were killing me. So I slogged myself back the way I came. The rains stopped once again and it got a little sticky out for only 66 degrees. One last stop at the stream for a snack and soon enough I was back at the car. I’m definitely coming back to finish off the south end to Ohiopyle and to tackle the north end to Rt. 31.