(2.20.21)
In order to avoid another day of “Covid boredom”, Ann Marie and I took another trip out into the countryside to enjoy the freshly fallen snow. We opted for Linn Run State Park, not far from Ligonier, PA. As is usually the case here in the Pittsburgh area, the skies were mostly grey when we left. On our way home we did experience some sunshine, we saw actual shadows! Needless to say…we were both really excited. I was starting to think that shadows were some sort of fictional idea that some crazy writer had dreamed up!
The drive took us through the countryside all covered with blankets of freshly fallen, glistening snow. We tried to avoid major roads as much as possible but still there were times we had to grit our teeth and hit some four lane roads. The commercialization and cleared roads just helped us enjoy the beauty of the back roads even more!
Nearing Linn Run State Park we drove though roads that dissected fields outlined with log fences with horses standing in them and LARGE houses on the hill tops. You can tell there is “old money” in the properties around here!
The roads going into Linn Run were snow covered and rather narrow but the car had no trouble driving on them. In a short while we were at the first parking lot, our destination. We bundled up since the temperatures were in the 20’s and headed down the Flat Rock Trail.
Around a ¼ mile of our hike, we came across the ruins of the McGuinis Rod and Gun Club lodge. The club, established in 1922 had built this structure as a hunting lodge. They abandoned it in the 1940’s and now all that is left are some of the rock walls and a tall chimney. The roof and windows have all fallen in and disappeared. There is a small room under a mountain laurel bush behind it, perhaps a storage shed or a cold cellar. (?)
While hiking in the park we met a couple families and their dogs. It was nice talking to people and petting animals again. It almost felt normal! (We weren’t wearing masks but we all were more than socially distant) I tend to miss, as I’m sure everyone else does, human contact. Seeing new people, saying “hello”, “How are you doing today?”, these all have been missing from our lives for the last year or so. We tend to only see a particular bunch of people and no one else. Human contact is so important!
Fresh air, cold temperatures chilling our faces and fresh snow covering everything, it was a beautiful day to be outside!
We walked down the trail a short distance further and came to the flat rocks that the trail was named after. The stream spreads out here as it crosses over some wide rocks. This is a great place to go in the summertime, when you want to get wet. On this day, we stayed away from the stream, wet was not in our game plan! We returned to the car and continued our journey.
Leaving the park we returned to rt. 30 and headed up the mountain. We stopped in Laughlintown to see if the Pie Shoppe was open but they were in mid re-construction and closed until finished. It was just as well, we really didn’t need the sugar!
A couple fire trucks sped past us while we were there. I always get a blast of adrenaline watching and listening to these big trucks speed by with their sirens wailing! It is similar to standing beside a railroad crossing as a train blasts past. We followed behind them but lost them going up the mountain.
Coming around a bend in the road we entered a definite winter wonderland! All the trees were covered in ice and snow. They hung down under the weight. The high hills on the sides of the road were all covered in white, the trees just thin dark lines. It looked magical. The snow got much higher as we climbed the hillside. At the top we turned onto Laurel Summit Road.
The road had about an inch or two on it but there were lots of tire tracks in it. We caught up to the fire trucks near the entrance to Laurel Mountain Village. There was no smoke we could see, the firemen were just standing around. There were at least 5 or six other engine companies there. After a short wait we were allowed to continue on.
Everything on the sides of the road was covered in ice and snow. Occasionally a shaft of sunlight would light up the area. It glistened. The snow was plowed high along the edges so there was nowhere to pull over. There were lots of cars and trucks up there. Sightseers like us, cross country skiers and lots of snowmobilers. We stopped in a parking lot filled with snowmobile trailers and I took a few pictures then we continued down to where twenty or thirty CC skiers had parked. I was planning on going further but the snow on the road had less tracks in it and was higher. I decided we had gone far enough. “You gotta know your limitations!
Returning to the “real” world, we stopped in Ligonier to visit one of our favorite book stores. We always try to stop into The Second Chapter whenever we visit the town of Ligonier. Along with some new books, they carry a fairly large collection of used volumes. The store has a nice selection of local interest books dealing with the history and people of the area. They also carry cards, toys and some locally made items. The woman who owns it is a second generation owner and is very pleasant to talk with.
We made another stop in Blairsville for some lunch before returning home. It was a nice trip with minimal contact with others, sadly. The high point was definitely the sight we saw as we came around the curve near the top of the mountain. The world was transformed into a piece of artwork, it looked like jewelry. I find it amazing that things can be so different just 80 miles away. Driving back to home, the scenery was still spectacular but it just didn’t match the beauty of the Laurel Highlands!
