Pittsburgh Asian American Young Professional Association

PAAYPA goes hiking at Mount Davis
By Louis Luangkesorn

Saturday, March 11 was the long awaited trek out to Mount Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania. Fans of states such as Colorado, Utah, Idaho and even New Hampshire know that this is a big deal, especially in states that have mountain ranges, such as the Appalachian mountains that runs diagonally through Pennsylvania. Mountain climbers have the 50 states club, where a person scales the high point of every state. However, real mountian climbers are more interested in things like the 14ers club or the state 13er club. Because some states are more impressive than others. And it turns out, Pennsylvania is one of those less impressive states. Mount Davis has the distinction of being the lowest high point amongst all states along the Appalachians. But hey, if you are checking off checklists, why not.

THE ADVERTISEMENT
Want to get outdoors? PAAYPA is going hiking Saturday March 11. Tentatively, we will go to Mount Davis, the highest point in Pennsylvania, known to peak baggers as the lowest high point amongst all states along the Appalachian mountains. But you don't have to tell anyone those little details! :-)

Details TBD, depending on the people involved. If you are at all interested in this or other outdoor/hiking trips this year, contact Louis at lluang@paaypa.org by Wednesday March 8, who will ask you a few questions regarding your interests and skill level.

THE REALITY
The eight of us made our way through the backroads of Somerset County to Mount Davis. Being troopers, instead of driving up to the summit of Mount Davis, we went to park at the picnic area where the hiking trails start so that we could hike around the park and up the peak. After lunch and the necessary bathroom break, we were off. First order of business: find the trail. This proved to be unexpectedly difficult. Once we found the trail, many members of the group were somewhat skeptical, as the trail seemed to be narrower and more rugged with branches scattered everywhere. Skeptics questioned if our courageous leaders were leading people for adventure, or doom. Such little faith. With bold determination and strong willed leadership, our little band head into the brush along the well-marked (with blue markers nailed to trees) Tub Mill trail.

The Tub Mill trail goes through deciduous forest area. At this point, buds on the trees have not opened, so the overall feel is rather desolate, with bald trees everywhere. There were bushes and scrub along the entire floor, and considerable debris. The obvious thing that strikes you about the Tub Mill trail is that fact that is overgrown and branches are laying around everywhere, and that there is a considerable amount of debris, with fairly fresh traces of breaks. Along the sides of the trail, we saw many thick branches that were recently cut. My estimation is that this is a result of the 2004 Hurricane season, which lead to considerable damage throughout southwest Pennsylvania as three hurricanes trailed through the region, knocking down trees and flooding valleys. Setting up tents here would be a difficult undertaking. It was also noted that wearing shorts here in the summer would not be a good idea, as the brush along the trail would tear up your legs.

The second half of the Tub Mill trail was a reminder that this was a mountain. It started innocently enough. A few stream crossings. A few cuts up hill while the trail followed the contours of lower Mount Davis. Then a sharp right and the trail went uphill. The ladies of the group gave a gold accounting of themselves. However, one of our young men was forced to call a time out. By the time we reached the top of the Tub Mill trail, we conceded defeat, and walked our way out using the Shelter Rock Road (an old, unused logging road).

Highlights along the road were the nice grass covered trail in contrast to the mud or rocks of the Tub Mill trail. It's nice and wide expanse. And at one point we saw deer fencing, meant to protect young trees as they grew up, instead of being eaten to two feet by deer. It seems to work although it was hard to tell from all the brush on the forest floor.

At the end of the road, we loaded our cars and drove to the parking lot near the summit. There is an observation tower at the top, and we all went up the exposed stairs to the top. And the view was good. In an expression of great openness and honesty, several members of the group expressed that they had a fear of heights. Fortunately, a member of the group not so afflicted was the last one down, making sure no one was left stranded on the stairs.

Also at the bottom was several boulders, one of which with a marker indicating it was the actual high point of Pennsylvania. Several members of the group did the required touching and rubbing of the high point. It is uncertain if this would ensure having healthy children.

We then returned to Pittsburgh. On the way back, the advertised thunderstorms that threatened the day finally struck, and the rain that graciously waited for us to finish came. (either that or the rain clouds that are assigned to your worthy reporter on outdoor trips were asleep on the job and finally woke up.) We drove through the rain to a well earned meal at Oriental Kitchen on Baum in North Oakland. This trip properly tired out most of the group, and except for a couple people who had energy to burn dancing, we retired to our abodes, with very happy, proud and tired bodies.

your highly biased and opinionated reporter,

Louis

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