Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail - KTA 2024 Slackpack, David W. “Cyril” Quatrone, aka FourFeet

On Friday, October 4, 14 intrepid individuals met in Ohiopyle to tackle the southern half of the stunning 70-mile Laurel Highlands Trail. The event was sponsored by Keystone Trails Association (KTA), and known as a slackpack; participants stayed in a motel at night, and were transported to and from the trail each day. KTA also sponsors international hiking trips, day hikes, backpacking journeys, trail maintenance weekends, and so much more.

Several of the participants met Friday morning to tour the world renowned Fallingwater. This is a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935, built partly over a waterfall. A very informative tour guide led the group through the grounds, house, and guest house. We learned many fun and interesting facts. One fun factoid was that Wright was greatly irritated when people did not have furniture arranged in what he considered was the perfect style. When visiting people, he would often rearrange a room. It was for this reason he often built furniture into the room so that it could not be moved. 

We were welcomed to the Ohiopyle Suites Friday afternoon by KTA staff Casey Schneck and Haley Feaster, and Terry Marshall, our hike leader. (His co-leader and daughter, Shawna Burger, would be joining us later that evening.) Our initial hike was a nice short 7.5-mile warmup with a little less than 1000 ft elevation gain. Haley drove us to the trailhead in the maiden voyage of the new KTA van.  There were not many views, but the woods were beautiful, and we did circumnavigate a rather large Bullrush Pond. After our return, the entire group gathered, with Shawna joining us, for a repast at the Twisted Spoke Café.

The next morning started out with a gourmet breakfast served up by the Bittersweet Café. They also provided us with sumptuous lunches for the trail. On this second day we traversed 12.3 miles, gaining 1500 ft altitude. Whereas yesterday the group stuck together, today a faster group went ahead led by Shawna, and her father, running sweep, led a group that preferred a slower pace. The trail goes through Seven Springs Ski Resort which had some amazing views. Towards the end of the hike we passed through giant rock “walls”. A cemetery was on the trail a few feet from the trailhead. The stones were so old and weather-worn, we could not make out any dates. We were on our own for dinner that night, but a few people went to the Pumpkin Festival.

On Sunday we started with a simple, but nutritious and delicious breakfast cooked by Casey. Our hike was about 11.5 miles with 1750 ft elevation. We had an amazing view of the Youghiogheny River. Someone also pointed out some Lions Mane, a mushroom that has a long history of medicinal use in East Asia. The group took a break at one of the amazing shelter areas on the trail. These areas contain five Adirondack shelters with fireplaces in the shelter AND a fire ring outside. They have men’s and women’s pit toilets, a water pump, and plenty of chopped firewood. After lunch the group split into two again, and the faster group returned to the cars, changed into crocs, and convened at Falls City Pub and Restaurant (right at the base of the trail) for some libations. As the slower group appeared the faster group gathered in two opposing lines with hiking sticks raised to form a tunnel of victory! A fitting end to a challenging but fun-filled weekend.

David W. “Cyril” Quatrone, aka FourFeet