What are we doing?

I'm planning on following hike 9 in the 50 Hikes in Western Pennsylvania trail guide, which will take us to Laurel Hill State Park (the guide is cheaper at Amazon). The loop the guide recommends is 7.7 miles long, taking us up a creek, through typical western PA forests, across a small tract of virgin hemlock forests, then along a small artificial lake.

What should we bring

At least one litre of water. If you're a heavy drinker, bring two. The number one problem people have while hiking is to drink too little water.
Lunch and snacks. A sandwich; apples or oranges (not squishy fruit like peaches and bananas); carrots; granola; whatever.
Good footware. The guide mentions we'll be crossing small streams, so bring shoes or, better, boots you don't mind getting slightly wet and possibly muddy. Generally, synthetic or wool socks are better than cotton (less chance of blisters) -- I wear a thin inner synthetic sock and a thick outer wool sock in my boots.
Rain gear (raincoat or umbrella), just in case.
Compass and headlamp if you have them.
If you have one, a first-aid kit in case someone gets blistered or scratched. If you don't, then don't go get one just for this.
If you have one, a car. If you don't, then don't go get one just for this.

I'll provide maps, a trail description, and directions to the trailhead.

How do we meet?

Meet at 10:30am on Saturday, Sept 4, at the UC turnaround. The turnaround is off Forbes, on the right as you head away from Oakland towards Squirrel Hill, about halfway between Morewood and the parking structure.

What if it rains?

If the weather's really rotten and forecast to stay that way, I'll mail out a cancellation on Saturday morning. If it's merely drizzling, or rotten but forecast to get nice, we'll still go.

Last modified: Wed Sep 1 19:51:25 EDT 2004 Benoît Hudson