Chuck Keiper Trail
 6/20 & 6/21/98
Section of the Chuck Keiper Trail (which is 52.8 miles in length)
Location:  Rt. 144 between S. Renovo and Snow Shoe in Sproul State Forest
Length:  27.8 miles
Total trip elevation gain:  3340 ft.

Day 1 - 7 miles Heading out on the Chuck Keiper Trail
Began the hike at State Camp on Rt. 144 at the top of Hall's Run between S. Renovo and Snow Shoe. The first leg of the hike was on the East Branch Swamp Trail for about 2 miles before connecting to the Chuck Keiper Trail.

We noticed that this connecting trail and part of the CKT was recently cleared by a very energetic trail crew - much appreciated! A tornado New growth from a forest fire years agoswept through this area several years ago and the destruction is still quite evident. The abundance of mountain laurel was breathtaking!

The trail took us across the Beech Creek Road and the Shoemaker Ridge Road before dropping into the ClendeninThe area is slowly recovering Branch of Baker Run - this section of trail is also called The Four Ridge Trail. Here we stopped and ate lunch.

Climbing up the first ridge we came to a clear-cut left by a forest fire, a few years ago. We also Hiking along Cranberry Swamppassed by a recently drilled gas well.

We then dropped down into Cranberry Swamp. Here we stopped to take a break on a wooden foot bridge. The humidity was outrageous and prime for thunderstorms.

Our next 4 miles were to be up and along a ridge but due toPicking up the pipeline trail the rumbling of thunder and the danger of being up on the ridge, we opted to make camp where we were.

It was early in the afternoon but the way this area's been hit by terrible storms lately, we Hiking to the top of the pipelinedecided to stay low in the valley.

We no sooner set up camp and the rains came (we found out the next day that 2 tornadoes went through the area just several miles south of us!!!). Because we were planning 11 mile days we had to remap our steps for the next day.

Day 2 (5 miles)
We continued on the CKT which took us around Cranberry Swamp. Here we left the CKT and picked up an unmarked trail which followed an underground natural gas pipeline up and down and up and down the mountains.

This was a straight route back to the vehicle. The humidity was outrageous both days.
 

Day 2 (5 miles)
We continued on the CKT which took us around Cranberry Swamp. Here we left the CKT and picked up an unmarked trail which followed an underground natural gas pipeline up and down and up and down the mountains.

This was a straight route back to the vehicle. The humidity was outrageous both days.

8/30/98
Section of the Chuck Keiper Trail (which is 52.8 miles in length)
Location:  Rt. 144 between S. Renovo and Snow Shoe in Sproul State Forest
Length:  7.1 miles
Total trip elevation gain:  3340 ft.

To reach the trailhead, drive 17.2 miles south on PA 144 from the junction with PA 120 in Renovo. We began our hike by going north along the highway to the unblazed but signed Eddy Lick Trail and then turning left. The trail is actually a jeep road that leads to several hunting camps. It quickly enters an extensive salvage cut. At 2.2km we reached the Chuck Keiper Trail at Crystal Spring Hunting Camp.

We circled around the camp and started our descent down the second fork of Yost Run (this trail is marked with yellow blazes). The second fork took us up a steep rocky slope. Near the end, the trail switched back down to streamside. At 4.6km we reached Yost Run and turned upstream where we began to encounter the chutes and cascades of this beautiful stream.

We crossed Yost Run six times and then crossed a smaller side stream from Log Hollow. This was followed by eight more crossings of the run. At 8.5km the Kyler Fork comes in on the far side of the run and just beyond we reached the waterfall. The fall's total drop is only 4 meters but waterfalls of this modest size are said to be rare.

We completed our hike by following the blazes upstream and turning left up Bloom Draft in front of another hunting camp. After we passed Camp Bloom we reached a vehicle gate at a junction of woods roads. Here the Chuck Keiper Trail turned right on a haul road but we went straight ahead on an unblazed old woods road that brought us out on PA 144 at 10.8km. We then turned left along the highway and walk for a short distance back to our vehicle.

Footnote: I thought it was a very enjoyable hike but Dave wasn't so generous with his thoughts. The trail was quite overrun with itch weed (aka stinging nettles) along 70 percent of the trail, especially bad along the water runs. Dave ended up walking up the run on stepping stones while I trudged through the nettles (I couldn't keep my balance on the slippery rocks).