Old Loggers Path Backpacking (3-days, 2-nights)

Please note that this is a 3-day, 2-night trip and will run all day Fri 8/1 – Sun 8/3. There is no reasonable way to join us late. This trip starts in Canton, PA, which is 4 ¼ hours from Northern, Virginia, so we will carpool.

Old Loggers Path
From Wikipedia: The Old Loggers Path is a 27 mi hiking trail in north-central Pennsylvania, forming a loop through Loyalsock State Forest.The most commonly used trailhead is at the ghost town of Masten. The trail makes use of abandoned logging railroad grades originating in the late 1800s, and some roads originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. The trail is known for numerous vistas, rock formations, and scenic streams, and for the remnants of past industrial infrastructure reclaimed by the forest.
This area of Loyalsock State Forest was owned by the Union Tanning Company and then the Pennsylvania Lumber Company, and was almost entirely clear-cut by the early 1900s. The hills were criss-crossed by many railroads and (later) roads, the routes of which are now used by hikers. Loggers inhabited the town of Masten, which was once a substantial community but had been abandoned by about 1930 after local logging opportunities dried up. Masten then housed a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, from which workers embarked on projects to rehabilitate the nearby forest. Masten is now a ghost town featuring little more than a few hunting camps. In 2017 historic flooding on Pleasant Stream destroyed roads throughout the area, including some portions of the trail.

Details

• Difficulty Rating: Moderately Difficult
• Plan is to hike the loop Clockwise, hitting Sprout Point at 5 miles.
• Total Mileage: 26.7 Splits of 10.2/10.2/6.3
• Total Gross Elevation Gain: 4,275 (1,616/1,5561,1,103)
• Cost: $0 For Permits, but non-drivers need to contribute towards gas. 440 miles roundtrip, so around $30 per person.
• Maximum Number of Hikers: 8

Meeting Location / Carpooling
Option #1, NOVA area attendees:

• 6:00am Home2 Suites by Hilton Leesburg, 420 Fort Evans Rd NE, Leesburg, VA 20176 - Sign Waiver, sort carpooling out. Then, park extra cars.

Option #2, MD & Baltimore area attendees:

• 8:00am Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center, 1150 Camp Hill Byp, Camp Hill, PA 17011

• Last place to stop is in Williamsport, PA – last services for the ride.

• 10:30 Arrive at Trailhead, Masten Camp, 41.50723, -76.8208

Notes

• If you have no-showed on hikes, you will remain on the Waitlist until everyone else has cleared.
• The PATC requires each hiker to sign a liability waiver, which will be available at the trailhead
• Please check Meetup the night before. I will cancel a hike due to unsafe conditions.
• Attendance is limited at the discretion of our hike leaders. PATC rules do not permit children under 18 years to participate in a hike without a parent or guardian present.
• Potomac Appalachian Trail Club (PATC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Club volunteers maintain over 1000 miles of trails in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, including 240 miles of AT (and the section we will hike!). For more information about PATC, please visit https://www.patc.net/
• Pets are not permitted.

Packing Considerations & Other Itema
During signup, you will be asked to provide your Cell number and Email. I will use these mediums for further communication.
Reference Materials

• Good Reference Video from "Syntax77", YouTube Video Link
• Syntax77 Writeup: Trip Data from website
• Into the Backcountry, "Old Loggers Path Backpacking Guide"

Maps:

• AllTrails Link
• Purple Lizard Maps Loyalsock Pennsylvania State Forest Map, High Quality Map. Available from REI. REI Link.

Questions
David M (“Square Feet”) is leading this hike and is one of PATC’s certified Hike Leaders and a member of PATC Trail Patrol. David is also certified in Wilderness First Aid. David’s goal is to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, so if you have any questions or need assistance along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out!