Phoenix Backpack Club

 
 
 

It's been years since I hiked the western half of the AFT; time to refresh my memory. My trip planning was assisted by the excellent guidebook by Ben Cramer, available from PAhikes (https://pahikes.com/blogs/allegheny-front-trail) with a very accurate map of the whole trail. Trail mileages listed below are measured from the AFT's Rt 504 crossing to the East, traveling clockwise.

Thursday: We will meet at 2:45 PM at the parking area just behind the beach where Rt 504 crosses the Black Moshannon State Park lake. At 3 PM, we will shuttle one or more vehicles to our Sunday endpoint, a parking area just south of the AFT crossing of Julian Pike [masked], [masked], about 2 miles to the south of the main Park offices). Once the shuttle is accomplished, we will head north about 2 miles on the Shingle Mill Trail to a nice campsite by the stream under hemlocks. (Total hiking miles: 2)

Friday: Hike north about 1.7 miles on the Shingle Mill Trail to the AFT junction (mile 31.39 of AFT), and begin hiking the western half in a counterclockwise direction. Hike to an area with at least three campsites, probably stopping at the one at mile 23.99. Reliable water at campsites (Total hiking miles: 9.1)

Saturday: Continue on AFT to an excellent campsite at mile 13.87 in a hemlock grove with a spring and stream nearby. (Total hiking miles: 10.12).

Sunday: Continue on AFT until we reach our shuttled car(s) at mile 6.48. Use shuttled car(s) to reunite all drivers with their vehicles and head home. (Total hiking miles: 7.39.) If we have wet spring conditions, which is likely, this section of trail features boardwalks over boggy areas and some sloppy trail, but at least it is our last day on trail.

Please use Leave No Trace principles in your planning for and execution of this trip.

 
 
 

The A-100 takes place over all or some of the nearly 100 miles of North Country Trail that lie within the Allegheny National Forest. You can do your planned miles alone (most common) or with a buddy or two. I’m posting this so Phoenix members can have the info to sign up. I can answer questions from my past participation but will not participate this year.

Registration opens for the 2023 A-100 this Friday, March 10th at 12 pm here: https://northcountrytrail.org/events/a-100/

This year’s event will take place from Friday, June 9th - Sunday, June 11th, and will run South to North. Details on this year’s registration are as follows:
Registration will close at 12 pm, Friday, March 17th, or when we hit our cap of participants. Please note there will be no waitlist.

The cost of this year’s event will be $80, it does not include membership to the NCTA. Payment will be due upon registration.

After payment is complete you will be directed to a site to collect your personal information. This step is crucial. You will not be able to participate in the event if we do not have this information.

We have new swag this year - an A-100 tech hat! Registration includes the use of the shuttle from your chosen end point to the start.

Walk-in registrants will be accepted on the day of the event but will be entirely responsible for their own transportation, they will not be able to use the shuttle service. Walk-ins are not guaranteed event swag.

An email with more information will be sent out to registrants closer to the event date. In the meantime, please check the link above for our FAQ. Questions? Reply or email us at [masked]

See you on the trail!
Angelia Clarke and Alisha Glasgow
A-100 Co-Chairpersons