PA325 to Yellow Springs Trail (6.20 Miles)

We hiked this section on January 24, 2009.

Appalachian Trail
B Squared, Dirigo, Python, and Rock Star hiked 6.2 miles north on the AT starting at PA-325. The entire trail was covered in snow and the temperature was in the high 20's during the entire hike. The wind was also whipping around us the entire time we were up in the mountains.

The hike started with an approximately 1,000 foot climb up Stony Mountain.

During the climb we saw 4 or 5 people running down the mountain and two of them were wearing shorts. One guy was wearing really short shorts (shorts like the thru-hiker named Pickle was wearing when we saw him in the 100 mile wilderness)! It was rather scary.

Just before reaching the summit of Stony Mountain, we came to the junction for the Horseshoe Trail.

We took a short break to retrieve some snacks from our packs and Dirigo signed the trail register for the Horseshoe Trail. The register was in an old army box attached to a tree.

We knew that we had to keep moving in order to stay warm so there were really no long breaks during this hike.

The remainder of the hike on the AT was pretty easy and when the sun actually came out, it kind of felt warm. It felt great to be out hiking again!

Yellow Springs Trail
At mile 6.2, we turned left on the blue blazed Yellow Springs Trail. The initial climb up the trail was pretty steep and slippery. There was a downed tree on the trail so everyone had to 4-wheel it around the tree. We were sometimes on all fours. When we finally reached the top, we saw the ruins of the Yellow Springs village and took a group picture.

Stone Tower Trail
We turned right onto the red blazed Stone Tower Trail and this is where the real adventure began! As we descended the mountain, we came across a boulder field covered with snow (with ice hiding beneath the snow).

Descending down the boulder field was very slippery and most of the time Python and B Squared just resorted to sliding on their butts on the rocks. At one point Dirigo slipped on a rock, fell forward, twisted in mid air, and landed on her knees. Fortunately she was laughing at the end so we knew she was okay. Rock Star also slipped and at one point all we saw were her feet in the air. I am sure everyone will have some bruises on some part of their body from this.

We were all relieved to get through the boulder field without any injuries. Now we just had to look forward to the stream crossing near the end of the hike. Rock Star had done several scouting trips earlier in the week to find the best side trail down from the AT back to PA-325; both side trails required crossing a stream just before reaching PA-325. The stream crossing on the Sand Spring trail was a blown down tree with a thin sheet of ice. The stream crossing on the Stone Tower Trail was a single log with some nailed down wooden boards for traction and a thick guide wire. We wisely chose to take the Stone Tower Trail.

Rock Star was the first one to attempt the stream crossing.

She was half way across the log by the time we reached the stream and she was holding onto the guide wire. She told us that she slowly inched across the log until she could reach the guide wire and that the half way point was kind of icy. She made it safely across to the other side. She is one cool cat – nothing seems to faze her.

Now it was Python's turn to cross the log.

Python got onto the log and started side-stepping to the other side but since her legs were tired, it was hard to balance on the log and she was too short to reach the guide wire. She decided to return to the bank and get some rope that Dirigo had wisely packed. Python threw the rope over the guide wire and held it with one hand while slowly stepping across the log. Once she reached the middle, she could reach the guide wire and hold on with both hands. Another one safely across.

Next up was B Squared.

She was very nervous but also threw a rope over the guide wire and slowly and safely crossed. She had never done anything like this before, so we were so proud that she actually did it! What other choice did she really have?

Now, was Dirigo's turn.

Watching B Squared was nerve racking, but once her legs stopped wobbling, she made it over and was laughing about falling in.

Apparently Rock Star was video taping all of us. Was she looking for carnage to post on YouTube? We, Dumb and Dumber didn't deliver this time!

You can check out Rock Star’s photos by clicking here.

Update from R.O. on 2/1/2014
Well we hiked the Yellow Springs Loop Hike today. The Cable for the log used to cross Clark’s Creek is no longer there. Truthfully the Log is pretty well rotted. So we had to hike upstream about a mile or so to find another “suitable” log to cross the creek.

It is much easier and preferred to hike “up” the Red Blazed Stone Tower Trail. Those were some nasty rocks! Really enjoyed the Stone Tower and the General.