Larry A. Smail's Blog

Bennett’s Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek

I had planned this hike at the Fred Woods Trail last week, but current and pending weather conditions forced a change in plans. However, this Memorial Day, I decided to head north into Cameron County to investigate this trail.                                                                                          

A friend, Marci told stories of massive rocks in the area where the Fred Woods Trail crossed the ridge’s top. I knew I need to spend some time at the area in the future. I had wished I could have done this hike on another day, since I would have loved to see either the Elderton or Kittanning, Pennsylvania Memorial Day parades. Again, watching future weather predictions forced a decision for this day. The temperatures are to rapidly increase into the mid-eighties by Wednesday and the nineties following on Thursday and Friday. The humidity is to, also, grow in moisture.

  I left the house shortly after 5:00 A.M. to arrive around 7:30 A.M. to the parking area for the trail. I gathered up my camera’s and my friend, Ruger and began the trek into the forest. A walking staff accompanied me. I was elated to have the third leg after moving into a section of trail loaded with rocks of all sizes.

         The forest’s habitat changed several times during this hike. The beginning featured hemlock and mostly maples. The forest floor, although beautiful, were covered with the hay-scented fern. This specie emits a toxin that suppresses new tree growth.                                                          

As I continued, the woods began to show signs of increasingly bigger rock formations. Here the woods were rather open. This area would soon show an undergrowth of dense huckleberry. A large area exhibited such growth. Farther down the ridge the Striped Maple overtook the understory. This maple is not a best specie for wildlife either. All through the hike cherry and oak saplings were scarce to non-existent although big oaks were often present.

I had hoped to see a rattlesnake on this travel. However, the temperatures were somewhat cool. Frost could be viewed along the lower areas as I traveled to the trail. I talked with a local and he said he catches them at times and knows of a den near his place.

Boulder fern and Canada Mayflower on rock’s edge.

The rock formations were, indeed, big! Many of the rocks were much bigger than a common home of poor people like me. Many had split many years ago. Trails between these splits easily exposed how the rocks had fit together in times past. One such corridor went for around a hundred feet or more. The rocks were big like I said!                     

Bull elk with new antler growth and summer hair in place.

Two sites are kept open for hikers to view beautiful vistas. The mountains are grandeur in God’s Country Pennsylvania. One vista is called  the “Water Plug Run” with the other called “Huckleberry Vista”. I set for a time to take in the splendor!

Critters of interest were one gray squirrel and lots of chipmunks. I saw three deer here and four deer while traveling. I saw two turkeys and an elk while traveling too.                                                                                

Bull Elk

However, I was thrilled to walk up ion two bull elk while traveling the trail! I knew seeing them was a possibility, but yet, I was taken by surprise when I encountered the two. On a sad note a small group of ravens were viewed feasting on a dead bull elk.

Warblers were singing all day. I saw an American Redstart and vireos along with a Blackburnian Warbler. Oh, how I tried to capture this specie with the camera! I almost did!

Leaving the trail was a sad event. I would have liked to stated much longer. I stopped at the Bucktail Overlook for a spectacular view of the mountains of the area. this was almost a 360 degree view!