SATC Trail Alerts and Latest Conditions

Trail Alerts and Latest Conditions
for footpaths in and around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

The "high hunting seasons": In 2008 Spring Gobbler season runs from MID-APRIL THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY MONDAY, WEAR ORANGE!!!! Hikers should pay especial attention to the small game, wild turkey, spring gobbler, black bear, and deer seasons listed here. It is THE LAW for all persons (INCLUDING HIKERS) on State Game Lands (MANY footpaths, including parts of the Appalachian Trail, use Game Lands) to wear a BLAZE ORANGE cap or vest, from November 15 through December 15. Always show respect to our fellow lovers of the outdoors, especially at this time of year.

Lorrie Preston photo

Rausch Gap Bridge CLOSED. Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club (the A.T. maintaining club for the affected section of the Trail) and ATC Mid-Atlantic Regional Office in cooperation with the Game Commission has opened a temporary re-route of the A.T on May 4, 2008. The temporary relocation fords the creek compass north, Trail-west, of the closed bridge. The relocation affects the A.T. between the blue-blaze to Rausch Gap shelter, and the Stony Valley railroad grade. Signs are posted. Hikers will need to suffer wet feet crossing Rausch Creek for the near future. The Pennsylvania Game Commission has CLOSED to ALL hikers and bikers, the bridge over Rausch Creek in SGL 211, northern Lebanon County, shared by the Appalachian Trail and the Stony Valley rail trail. Built in 1854 by the Schuylkill & Susquehanna Railroad, high water early in 2008 has undermined its foundations and the stone arch is collapsing. Also SATC member Brandy Watts offers historical information at her unofficial web site. Updates will be posted when available.
BURN BAN: No open fires from 4/1 to 5/25, from 10/1 to 12/15, and whenever declared otherwise by DCNR Bureau of Forestry. In Spring and Fall, when there are no leaves on the trees, sunlight dries out the duff and leaves on the ground very quickly... And the danger of fire is high. Use your self-contained stoves. Only the Chechako (tenderfoot) builds a bonfire.

Can I camp on Game Lands? Can I build a fire on Horse-Shoe Trail? Click here for some answers.
Bear alert: From the Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer for northern Dauphin county: I've been spending some time on the Trail lately and I am concerned that few hikers were using bear bags. The bear population seems to be higher this year. I already moved one human-habituated bear from Clarks Valley, and I know there are several more in the Dauphin area. It is important for north-bound hikers to realize that once they cross the Susquehanna at Duncannon, they are leaving an area where bears are uncommon and entering an area where bears are common and to be expected. Hikers should take the usual precautions--there's no need for alarm, just common sense. Thanks.

WCO Mike Doherty
PGC District 6-22-1
Northern Dauphin County
610-926-3136
Horse-Shoe Trail Relocation- There has been a significant relocation of the Horse-Shoe Trail in the Stony Valley area of State Game Lands #211, Dauphin County, in the past year due to an unsafe crossing of Stony Creek for hikers. The trail previously crossed the creek at a cable crossing about a mile east of Ellendale Forge. The cable crossing was always dangerous for hikers and was damaged by flooding in 2004.
The trail follows a route from the south up and over Second Mountain on a gas pipeline and then used to go all the way down the north side of the mountain to the crossing of Stony Creek. It then crossed the Stony Valley railroad bed and ascended Sharp and Stony Mountains on the Rattling Run Road (game commission service road) from near its western junction with the railroad bed.
The relocated trail for hikers still descends down the gas pipeline on the north side of Second Mountain but instead of going all the way down to Stony Creek, the trail now turns to the right (east) after .6 mile from the top of the mountain onto a short path leading to a logging road. It follows the logging road for 3 miles to cross Stony Creek at Kurtz’s Bridge. It then climbs briefly to the Stony Valley railroad bed and turns right (east) on it for 2.2 miles until it reaches the eastern junction of Rattling Run Road. The trail then climbs this portion of that road up Sharp Mountain to meet the existing trail just past the Kabob Monument. The relocated portion of trail is 6.2 miles long. The former route was about 9 miles long.
This relocation is described and shown correctly on the latest Horse-Shoe Trail guidebook and map set (23th edition, July 2006). The route of the trail shown on the KTA map AT in PA sections 7 & 8 (2004 edition) is now obsolete.
Note: There is a separate, partially different relocation route of the trail for horses that is also described in the newest Horseshoe Trail guidebook and map set. This route follows the gas pipeline all the way down Second Mountain to the original crossing of Stony Creek and then turns right (east) on the railroad bed, which it follows all the way to the eastern junction with Rattling Run Road.
Tuscarora Trail has been thrown off private land northwest of Carlisle. The affected section is west of PA 74 (Waggoners Gap Road) and east of Colonel Denning State Park. Check this link for details.
Shikellimy Trail: The Shikellimy Trail has recently been relocated by the SATC. The one-mile long, blue-blazed side trail on the south side of Peter’s Mountain, Dauphin County, connects the Appalachian Trail on the top of the mountain with PA Rt. 325 (Clark’s Valley Road).
Previously, the trail terminated near the eastern edge of the private Camp Shikellimy grounds in Clark’s Valley. The short relocation places the entire trail within surrounding state game commission lands and the new trailhead at Rt. 325 is across the road from adequate parking.
The trailhead along PA 325 can be located as follows: From the intersection of PA Rt. 225 and Rt. 325 East, which is north of Dauphin, head east on Rt. 325 for about 8 miles. Between PennDOT mile markers 210 & 220, just past Camp Shikellimy, is a long parking pull-off on the right (south) side of the road. Park here and look for blue blazes on north side of the road at the end of guardrail. A trail sign will be put up in the near future to identify the trail.
The Shikellimy Trail and parking area is shown correctly on the newest version (2004) of the map Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania Sections 7 & 8 Susquehanna River to Swatara Gap, published by the Keystone Trails Association.
Yellow Springs Trail: A portion of the Yellow Springs Trail in State Game Lands #211, Lebanon County, was severely damaged by flooding, probably during heavy rainstorms in the summer/fall of 2004. This blue-blazed side trail connects the Stony Valley Railroad Grade with the Appalachian Trail on Sharp Mountain. It then continues north to connect with the Stone Tower Trail at the top of Stony Mountain, goes past the old stone tower, and loops back to the Appalachian Trail at the Yellow Springs village site.
The .8 mile long section of the trail on the south side of Sharp Mountain, which had followed an old elevated incline plane much of the way, was apparently washed away at various points by rushing flood waters. Large deep gullies and a lot of rocks and debris make this portion of the trail unsafe for hiking. The loop portion of the trail north of the Appalachian Trail is still intact and passable but currently is not maintained. Do not plan on using the damaged portion of the Yellow Springs Trail for loop hikes or access to the AT.
The access from Ft. Indiantown Gap (Cold Springs Road), could soon be taken over by a "Stryker unit" of military vehicles if you don't speak out. Check out http://www.savestonyvalley.com/ for details and updates on this generation's fight to Save Stony Valley!
Keystone Trails Association
If you know of a condition that should be listed here, contact SATC and provide as much information as possible. Thanks!

Peter Fleszar
Last Updated May 6, 2008