Loop Hikes, Part I: The 300-mile GET Loop

For a loop that is entirely Great Eastern Trail, hikers can explore the GET Bifurcation Loop (someone will come up with a much more alluring name for this). 

The breakdown of miles is something like this, beginning in Hancock, MD and hiking counter-clockwise:

41 miles of Tuscarora Trail

82 miles on the Standing Stone Trail

122 miles of the Mid State Trail

53 miles of Green Ridge State Forest and the C&O Canal to return to Hancock.

Some highlights of the GET Loop Include:

• Tuscarora Mountain
• Big Pond Shelter on the Tuscarora Trail
• Cowans Gap State Park
• The landslide bench
• A standing stone
• The Thousand Steps
• Butler Knob Shelter
• Hall of the Mountain King
• Detweiler Run Natural Area
• Rothrock State Forest
• Trail towns including Hancock, MD; Williamsburg, PA; and Everett, PA
• Jo Hays Vista
• Mailbox registers
• Maple Run Valley
• Martin Hill
• The absolutely stunningly amazing C&O Towpath

Why begin and end in Hancock?: C&O Bicycle Hostel: showers, bunks, a super-friendly owner, shuttles, mail drops accepted.  Hancock is accessible by bus and there is pizza in town.  I rest my case.

Why hike counter-clockwise?: The southern Mid State Trail was the most challenging section of this loop for me and might be better saved for almost-last.

What guides are needed?: The Tuscarora Trail guide/maps, Standing Stone Trail maps/guide, Mid State Trail maps/guide and resupply PDF, and Green Ridge State Forest Map.  See the Guides and Maps Page for links.

*Right.

Are there rocks?: Hahaha.  No.  Not one.*

How bad are the rocks?: Well, the rocks felt different than the AT’s rocks - easier to navigate.  (Or maybe I just got used to pain as I've hiked...)  There are a few sections of the Mid State Trail that were very rocky (and some that aren't at all!), but they provided overall better views than the AT did and so the rocks felt much more worth it. There is also a sense of wildness on the Mid State Trail that I didn't feel on the Pennsylvania AT, which made mentally dealing with rocky segments much easier for some reason.  Your mileage may vary.

Why should I hike this?: Green Ridge State Forest is gorgeous and has a rich history.  And who doesn't love the C&O?  But the most important reason is this: the Mid State and Standing Stone Trails showcase the beauty and wilderness in Pennsylvania.

 “The really beautiful Appalachian ranges in Pennsylvania – Nittany and Jacks and Tussey – stand to the north and west.  For various practical and historical reasons, the AT goes nowhere near them.” – Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods

Standing Stone Trail website

The SST has a new website!  Congratulations; it looks fantastic! Check out this trail!

http://www.standingstonetrail.org

Help Preserve Pennsylvania Hiking!

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has recently announced proposals affecting their State Game Lands: one would require hikers to carry permits and another would ban non-hunters during some of the best times of the year: the end of September through mid-January and mid-April through the end of May.  During these periods, the trails would only be open to hikers on Sundays, eliminating any chance for a long-distance hike.  The proposal is located here at this link. 

This would affect 95 miles of the Great Eastern Trail and would limit the season for both northbound and southbound thru-hikers, in addition to severely restricting the opportunity for people to hike sections of it during pleasant times of the year.

Please take five minutes of your day today to write to the Pennsylvania Game Commission to let them know your thoughts.  The next meeting will be on the 25th, so please send in your comments as soon as possible!  The Keystone Trails Association sums up the situation nicely and provides contact information at this link.  

East Route vs. West Route

Between Hancock, MD and Detweiler Junction near State College, PA there are two official routes that the Great Eastern Trail aligns with.  Either route is legitimate for a thru-hike.

Assuming a northbound hike, the decision happens in Hancock, where you turn either right or left onto the C&O Towpath.  Turning right takes the hiker to the west route.  Turning left joins the east route.  (Does this seem backwards?  Yeah it does, but it isn't.)

East and West Routes - C&O Towpath

The east route utilizes the C&O for about 8 miles. 

This view is super awesome for, like, 2 hours.

The west route follows the C&O for 30+ miles.

The towpath is almost completely flat, and while it's possible to knock out 20+ miles per day on the trail with decent camping spots and potable (although highly iodined) water, it presents numerous issues such as bike traffic, monotonous bugs, monotonous pounding of the feet, and, well, general monotony.


 East Route - Tuscarora Trail
On the east route, the GET continues on the Tuscarora Trail through Maryland before entering Pennsylvania.  The GET briefly continues on the Tuscarora to Cowan's Gap State Park where the Tuscarora and GET separate.  Highlights of this short section include:

• Crossing the Maryland/Pennsylvania border at a nice wooded location
• Two shelters, one with a pond
• Hang glider ramp (don't get any ideas)
• A biker bar atop Tuscarora Mountain
• Potential resupply in McConnellsburg, off trail
• Cowan's Gap State Park

East Route - Standing Stone Trail
The east route next veers onto the Standing Stone Trail.  The GET follows this trail for its entire length, meaning an eastern hike includes an automatic end-to-end of the Standing Stone Trail.  The SST leads to Greenwood Furnace State Park.  Highlights of the Standing Stone Trail include:

• A giant stone monolith
• Potential limited resupply in Three Springs
• Potential limited resupply near Mapleton
• The Thousand Steps
• Hall of the Mountain King
• Throne Room
• Butler Knob Shelter
• Rocky Ridge Natural Area

East Route - Greenwood Spur
From the northern terminus of the Standing Stone Trail, the GET follows the Greenwood Spur Trail to meet up with the Mid State Trail.  Highlights of this short trail are:

• Greenwood Furnace State Park with some amenities
• Alan Seeger Natural Area, a ridiculously lush and gorgeous section of trail

West Route - Green Ridge State Forest
Green Ridge State Forest is a beautiful and challenging section of the Great Eastern Trail.  Northbound hikers will get to make up for the long flat walk to get there.  Highlights include:

• Access to official campsites and shelters - some with porta-potties!
• Breathtaking views
• A more thorough representation of Maryland 
• Potential resupply in Flintstone, Maryland

West Route - Mid State Trail

The western route hiker will complete the entire Mid State Trail, starting at the Mason-Dixon Line/PA-MD border, continuing to Detweiler Junction where both routes come together, and heading to the NY line.  Highlights of the MST from Maryland to Detweiler Junction include:

• A superb and amusing guidebook
• Frequent register boxes or mailboxes
• A GET diamond at the border
• Martin Hill area
• Sweet Root Natural Area
• Fantastic resupply in Everett
• Tenley Park's free camping
• New Frontier Restaurant just off trail at Loysburg
• Maple Run Valley, a fairy wonderland
• More fantastic resupply in Williamsburg
• Jo Hays Vista among others
• A gorgeous walk through Rothrock State Forest

Okay, okay, whatever -- which one is best?

Both of 'em.  I cannot recommend one route over the other; it depends on your strengths and weaknesses and what you want to get out of your hike and what kinds of challenges you appreciate.

In terms of overall difficulty, the western route is moderately more challenging due to being longer and also the rockiness of MST Sections 7, 3, and 2 in particular.  The western route has significant water issues and also lacks legal camping locations along some sections of the MST, leading to long days.

BUT...The western route is easier in that there is only one guide/map set needed (other than printing the free Green Ridge State Forest maps) and it is fantastic. The western route is also much easier for quality resupply.  Also, there are many stretches of the southern route that I would rate as very easy, terrain-wise.


The eastern route's difficulties are that it requires no fewer than three guides/map sets of varying updatedness.  There are frequent rocky sections (particularly the Stone Mountain section of the SST).  It is also very challenging to resupply on this stretch and a maildrop would not be a bad idea.

BUT... The eastern route holds perhaps more iconic locations.  Overall, its water situation is sufficient - while there are dry (and rocky) sections, they are not nearly as long or arduous as the western route's.  The east route also spends less time on the C&O, which for me is a plus but might not be for you.

Choose your own adventure! 
-jo

Wait, so, what?!

Here is the entire plan for summer 2014:

In a few days we are leaving for State College, Pennsylvania.  In Pennsylvania and Maryland, the Great Eastern Trail has two official routes.  To thruhike the trail, you need only choose one route and last year we took the eastern route, hosted on the Tuscarora Trail, Standing Stone Trail, and Greenwood Spur of the Mid State Trail.  

This year we want to explore the western route of the Great Eastern Trail.  We are returning to Detweiler Junction on the Mid State Trail, then heading south along the MST.  The MST is very proud to use the metric system, so we'll be brushing up on that while we hop over rattlers and sweat our butts off.

At the Maryland border, we will follow the GET through Green Ridge State Forest before our final GET jaunt along the C&O Towpath towards Hancock, Maryland.

From Hancock, Maryland, it is only 90 miles to Bruceton Mills, West Virginia where the northern terminus of the Allegheny Trail lies.  Had we more time we'd walk there, but instead we will be finding a shuttle.

You can read more about the Allegheny Trail by clicking here.  

Map courtesy of Cookerhiker.

The Allegheny Trail ends on the Appalachian Trail, about 16 miles north of Pearisburg, Virginia.  We will hike the newly-relocated section down into town and then flail our arms around until we figure out a way back to Mullens.

Even more info available at WVSTA.

Originally, this 500+ mile trip was planned to be a super-relaxing, no-stress 7-week trip.  We envisioned lots of time to chill out and visit with people.  Then Jo's summer gig needed her a week earlier than she had guessed.  Then Bart's school got extended a week in June due to snow days.  So our 7-week trip turned into a 5-week trip.  We are still looking forward to visiting with friends along the way -- we might just make you hike with us rather than relaxing with you. :)

Slideshow

Hi friends!  I've finally put together a slideshow about the places we saw on the hike.  Enjoy! 

-Jo

Kindness

Well, it is 1AM and instead of sleeping so we're well-rested for a long day tomorrow in Woolrich, Bart and I are up late reminiscing.

We have been so lucky to meet great people along our hike. We have been thinking back to Sticky Buns & her husband Steve who were our trail angels in Three Springs recently. We feel blessed to have been taken under their wing for a night - delicious food and delicious rest. We are sure that their hiker book will soon fill up.

When we look back, the kindness of strangers and mere acquaintances is the most profound impression in our mental collage of hiking memories.

Stone Mountain

My view atop the raptor viewing platform vs. Jos on the Standing Stone Trail. HillBillyBart

Pre-Stone Mountain

After a dream breakfast of blueberry pancakes with Pat and Jim, we went on a hike... Imagine that. But we had company! Nice to learn more about the trail from those who know it best. After a couple miles, Kenny treated us to donuts and ice cold hibiscus tea... Wow!

Garthes

Huge thanks to the President and First Lady of the Standing Stone Trail for inviting us into their home even though we were drenched. Smoked pork, salad, and all the fixins... A couple of cold beers and a cool view. Thanks for the great stories!

1,000 Steps craziness

The 1,000 steps was the heaviest traveled attraction we have seen on the trail. We sat and ate lunch before our ascent up and the people just kept coming and coming it never stopped. I can see why this was a hot spot or must do climb for anyone. We will finish our trek through SST tomorrow and have enjoyed every step. Thank you SST volunteers! HillBillyBart & SomedayJo

On second thought we could double our money if Jo sold Slinkys at the bottom and I sold marbles at the top.

1,000 Steps

I think I'll come back next Memorial Day and sell Slinkys at the bottom of the Standing Stones 1,000 steps. HillBillyBart & SomedayJo

Hairdo

The Gas Line Barbers sure know how to give the mountains a reverse mohawk. Thinking about gettin one myself because I'm already full of gas and to be more like the mountains. HillBillyBart

perfect morning

The sun is getting high on us as we anticipate pizza for lunch before ascending the famous 1,000 steps of Standing Stone. So much to look forward to today in PA! HillBillyBart

PA --> KY --> PA

Today it is Bart's turn to bid farewell. He found these socks in Kentucky, left by a group from Pennsylvania who had an unfortunate evening on the Pine Mountain Trail.

Unable to find the owner in PA, Bart will be properly disposing of them in Mapleton's garbage can.

They made it home.

Hall of the Mountain King

Standing Stone Trail ROCKS!!!! Notice our position at the time. We had no idea what was ahead of us. We are having so much fun on this trail I'm happy to have been talked into it. -HillBillyBart

Standing Stone

Well today we de-packed and walked to see a Standing Stone.

A bet won

Bart forgot to mention that I won a candy bar off of him today when he did not think it was Memorial Day Weekend and I did. I love making bets with him. Never enjoyed a Twix so much...

Pennsylvania, your mood swings are wild. Gusts of 35mph today. From 90s a couple days ago to 30s forecasted tonight. Wheeee.

Onto the Standing Stone!

Odd day today. Woke up late in the morning with lack of motivation because of the cold temps and heavy winds. We manage to bring it together and hike even with the thought of cold rain ahead and leaving shelter and warm bed. Glad we did. It was very cold and high winds but wonderful start to the Standing Stone Trail in PA. We're cold but dry and my belly is full life is good! HillBillyBart