Elk Trail Log
November 20-22, 2009

Who: JonW, Steve (none), Leann, limeygal, Doug, Qi Wiz, Wibes, Benjamin

Day 0 - Friday, November 20, 2009

Steve and Doug drove, the rest rode along.  We met at the free Hicks Run Camping area near Benezette.  Both vehicles arrived within 5 minutes of each other (through superior planning!)

Two of my three sons were along and I thoroughly enjoyed having them go.  (Wibes and Benjamin)

Those who did not know one another introduced themselves around.  We chatted for a while and then everyone set up their tents and soon went to bed.  It was DARK at this campground.

Day 1 - Saturday, November 21, 2009

We got up shortly before 7:00 at the sun started up.  Breakfast was had by all and we packed up to leave.

There is an elk viewing area where Hicks Run ends on SR 555.  We stopped there with no expectations.  However from the platform we spied 3 cow elks at the far end of the field.  We left the blind and went a little way into the field.  There was a large bull elk along the tree line out of sight from the blind.  Pretty cool, we say elk!

We drove to the trailhead on Dents Run Road and dropped off half the hikers.  I went along with Doug as we took both cars over to Benezette, where the trail ended.  We dropped off Doug’s vehicle and piled into Steve’s car and soon were back at the Dents Run trailhead.

The Elk Trail is blazed in yellow.  It used to be blazed in orange, but for the most part these have been replaced/painted over.  There is also a red blazed trail in this area and a blue horseshoe trail.  At times they run together.

We left the trailhead in various groups.  I took up the trail position and for the most part Doug, Qi Wiz, and I hiked together for the entire trip.

Our rule for the hike was for the lead hikers to wait at each road they came to so we didn’t get too strung out.  This worked well.

There were turkey hunters out and we occasionally heard a shot fired.

The trail starts out following an old wagon road circa the late 1800s going up Little Bear Run.  Soon this dumped onto Snook’s Trail and then to Ridge Trail.  Once on this section we stayed up pretty high following a ridge until we came to Shaffer Draft Road.  In this section we ran into an older (yes older than me) gentleman hunting turkey and we had a pleasant chat with him as we all took a break for a snack. 

From here the trail went to a old abandoned pipeline for a short stretch and then down an old RR grade until it dumps out onto where Bell Draft and Dark Hollow Roads come together.  Here we found some comfortable rocks to enjoy lunch.

The trail went up Log Slide Hollow and then down another old wagon road to Dents Run Road.  (some miles from where we started).  We were told that there were campsites here and there were but we did not like the proximity to the road and all the hunters that were likely ‘gettin ready’ for bear season the following Monday.  Along the trail, a number of our group spotted elk.  Unfortunately for me, I was not in this group.

We crossed Dents Run, some taking off their boots, others not and took council on the west bank.

We decided that Steve, Leann, and I would continue on to see if we could locate ‘better’ camping further on.  It looked as if we found camping at the top of the ridge it would be dry.  The remainder had the assignment of filtering water.  Off we went.  This was the steepest section of the trail.  A little over a mile in we found a nice stand of evergreens with a spring.  I dropped my pack and returned to ‘fetch’ the rest of the group.  Steve and Leann scouted about the best area while I was gone.

We all got to the area and Steve and Leann indicated that there were no better areas .5 miles or so on so we decided to stay here.  We had to spread out a bit to find level enough ground but soon all shelters were up.  In scouting around for a site a fire-ring was found.  We were not within sound of a road or camp; we had water, and a fire-ring.  Bully for us!

We spent the next hour or so gathering wood from the many downed trees in the area.  We started a fire just before it got dark and let it burn itself out just before going to bed.  Very nice.  Very, very nice.

Dinner, desert, swapping stories, the outdoors, no rain, not cold – all good.

Day’s distance: 9.4 miles
Elevation gain: 1700 feet
Elevation loss: 760 feet

Day 2 - Sunday, November 22, 2009

Everyone was up by 7:00 AM as we wanted to get on the trail by 8:30.  We managed to achieve this goal.  The last of the group pulled out at 8:30 on the dot.

The trail was an old wagon road first down Emery Draft/Orchard Hollow crossing Little Dents Run and then up Oil Derrick Hollow.  After this short up at Oil Derrick Hollow, the trail went down hill the rest of the way to the trailhead.  Generally it followed an old timber haul road.

We passed the evidence of widespread strip-mining along the way.

When we got to the trailhead we crammed all of our packs into Doug’s vehicle and he took off with Steve to retrieve his vehicle.  We walked to the Benezette Hotel for lunch and their return.  With one exception, we all had the elk burger and it was delicious with the cold Yuengling!

Day’s distance: 6.6 miles
Elevation gain: 460 feet
Elevation loss: 1370 feet

Observations:

For some reason I really liked this trail and completely enjoyed the weekend.  I am very glad that I went.  While this trail could easily be day-hiked, I had a nice relaxing time.

I may add pictures at some point in time.