Old Stage Coach Trail to PA Rt. 61 (Port Clinton)

September 14, 2014

Tom, Shannon, Wyatt and Mike

7 miles

Our 16^th section hike on the Appalachian Trail, and perhaps the nicest day of hiking we have experienced yet.  If you put aside the fact that most of the 7 miles was spent walking over rocks, it might have been considered the perfect hike all around.

Heading along Blue Mountain towards Port Clinton, we began on Old Stage Coach Trail, which is accessed about 1.5 miles from the nearest parking lot.   Of course, we don’t add this mileage to our total, but it should be noted that not every hike can begin in a convenient location.  Thanks to Mona, though, we were dropped off and picked up with one car—eliminating the need for two cars---and saving lots of time.   Great to have her join us again!

About three miles into the hike we stopped at the Auburn Overlook, which is at 1500 feet and has incredible views of the valley below, the Schuylkill River, and the town of Auburn in the far distance.

Near there we met through two thru-hikers, Red Beard and Sardine.  They started out in Maine on June 23 and nearing the half-way point, were hoping to get to Georgia in late November.

Near this area too was a trail journal, sitting near a campfire site.  It listed all the expenses made by the hiker for their journey.  It's not an inexpensive proposition to hike the A.T.

After the lookout, the Trail begins to descend, and drops 1000 feet in under one mile.  Managing this downhill, with the rocks included, makes it easy to understand why Tom prefers going uphill.  Explaining the rocks, and the quick descent doesn't quite do it justice--you must get out there and see for yourself.

At the bottom of the mountain is an old railroad yard, which is part of the Reading and Northern Railroad.  While it still had train activity, its heyday was 100 years ago when it busily transported coal mined in this part of the Anthracite region.  

Even on flat land for the remainder of the hike, our quads continued to feel the sting long after we walked through the picturesque town of Port Clinton (pop. 326) and to the Rt. 61 underpass.  

Including the two-mile segment to make up, we are about 78 miles from the New Jersey line!