There is a trail in Central Pennsylvania, the Eagleton Mine Camp Trail. While this trail has been in existence for many years, it had lately fallen into disrepair, mostly because of heavy fracking traffic, which limited its use by Equestrians, Mountain bikers, and hikers (multi-purpose trail).
I wrote to the Sproul State Forest Office at the end of 2014 to request they assess and repair that trail. They have a looonnng list of requests for trail repair since they have limited manpower and funding. I stated that I and my riding buddies would be more than wiling to help where we could.
In the summer of 2015 the Head of Trails for Sproul starting working on clearing the Eastern stretch of the EMCT. We rode this trail last fall, and it was great. Very challenging in places, but beautiful views, and worth the effort. It must have been quite a challenge to clean and repair.
Yesterday we rode the Western end of the EMCT, including part of the Shear Trap Trail. They obviously just cleared this recently in the last several months. They had to have brought in a brush clearing machine it was so thick. So worth the ride, lots of long meanders thru the woods, along side a chuckling stream. Cross a hollow to the ridge, and find old logging roads just begging for a canter. I did NOT bring my camera, which is unusual for me. I did take a serious of photos of this area back in 2011, a album of which is here if you care to view it:
[URL=“http://s204.photobucket.com/user/Lawndart_album/library/GORGEOUS%20Laurel%20Ride”]http://s204.photobucket.com/user/Lawndart_album/library/GORGEOUS%20Laurel%20Ride
Hopefully you won’t have to sign in.
If you get the chance to ride this area, please do. If you do, and enjoy it, please take the time to contact the Sproul State Forest 570-923-6011 to thank them for their efforts. If we don’t show our appreciation for the work they do to preserve our Equestrian trails, they will disappear.
If you ride it let me know, I’ll be thrilled to hear someone else enjoys this area like I do.
