This is the Skyline Drive overlook in the Gallitzin State Forest--a way cool and little-known retreat in the mountains just east of Johnstown. The view looks east into the "Ridge and Valley" region of central Pennsylvania.
Gallitzin State Forest has been on my wish list for a long time--but it's just a little too far from home. It's a two-hour drive into the wilderlands east of Pittsburgh, but I finally got a chance this past Saturday. In eight hours, I saw not another soul on the trails--though I did see this slightly spooky hunting tent.
Once again, it's been a dry summer in the city, so I didn't think to pack any rain gear. But when I got up to Johnstown, at a much higher altitude, I had to stop and buy a poncho. It rained most of the day up in the mountains, which was nice. I get so tired of all the damned light.
The overlook at Skyline Drive (pictured at the top of this page) is nice enough. But a much better overlook is about two miles to the south and only accessible by hiking the long trail in. It's got this observation deck to enhance the view, too. I don't know if this place has a name, but clearly you can someone camps here. Technically, you can camp anywhere in the state forests, as long as your campsite can't be seen from the trail. In reality, I don't think anyone observes or enforces that rule because there's a fire ring here at the overlook and, well, the spooky guy in the hunter's tent was right next to the trail, too.
The sun was shining on the ridgeline, but down in the valley to the east, it was all mists and shadows, even at 11am. On a clear day, this would be a great place to watch the sunrise.
The family and I will be coming back this way to do a summer's-last-hurrah camping trip at Blue Knob in early September. Actually, it'll be summer's first hurrah this year.
The treetops, the clouds, the watery light that seems to come from everywhere. I hate living so far from scenes like this one.
But the Gallitzin State Forest has a lot more to offer than I could discover in just a day. I did two hikes there: one along the summit, above, and another on the Bog & Boulder Trail to a small rock city called Wolf Rocks. It reminded me of the rock cities in the Allegheny National Forest, up in the northern part of the state.
Wolf Rocks is a bunch of big boulders that would be pretty, except that they've been spray-painted by people who have no sense of civic responsibility nor any respect for natural beauty. There must be an easier way to access this place than the trail I hiked; there's got to be a dirt road accessible to cars. I don't think losers deface rocks would undertake such a long hike. One of the slogans on this rock reads, "Trump will kill us all." Although I deplore the foolishness of anyone who would tote a can of spray paint into the forest...I can't say that I disagree with his or her political wisdom.
It's a rare bit of wisdom in these parts, too. The few political signs on display around here are all pro-Trump. Those who oppose Trump are scared to say so. Isn't it interesting how fear already swirls around that horrid old man, the way flies swarm around a roadkill groundhog? Barely a square foot of these rocks remains unsullied.
Ah, but I come to the woods to expand my sense of possibility, to nurture my spirit, to rise above bitterness and frustration. The views from these defiled boulder fields are good. Near the center of this photo, you can see another mountain in the far distance. Click any photo to enlarge.
It's hard to tell in this shot, but the crevasses between these boulders often open up into some nasty drops--reminiscent of that movie "127 Hours." As with all our state forestlands, the trails were well maintained, well marked, and supplied with good maps and information. This place is well taken care of, and the recreational opportunities are many. Where were all the people on a Saturday in early August?
