Watoga Trail Report February 28, 2018: Monongaseneka Trail & Chestnut Musings

Upon arriving at the Monongaseneka Overlook this morning Bongo and I saw fit to tarry a bit and “take in the view”. And what a view it is; changing with each visit depending upon the time of day, season and the weather. One thing that is always striking is the sense of an endless forest …

Watoga Trail Report February 24, 2018, Hiking with Canine Companions

A nice loop trail from the Pine Run Cabin area is starting on either Pine Run Trail (Cabin 28) or TM Cheek Trail (Cabin 21).  The loop is sewn together with a short section of the Honeymoon Trail and TM Cheek Road.  An added plus to this moderately strenuous hike is passing the TM Cheek …

Watoga Trail Report February 22, 2018:

Litter is an unusual find on Watoga’s trails so the Red Bull can on the Allegheny Trail caught my eye and found its way into my pack. I have always found an unexplainable dichotomy when someone intentionally seeks beauty and then desecrates it.  Watoga Trail Report for February 22, 2018. The good old Z-rig was …

Watoga Trail Report February 19, 2018: Honey Bee and Dragon Draft Trails

I almost forgot my ice creepers this morning and I would have soon regretted that. Those familiar with Honey Bee Trail in the Arboretum know that the initial mile of the SW section of the trail is fairly steep, narrow and rocky.   And when you throw in a few inches of slippery snow your …

Watoga Trail Report February 17, 2018: Opinions About Logging Watoga State Park

The NW section of Honey Bee Trail was littered with limbs from yesterday afternoon winds. There is one tree down on this section requiring a chainsaw, but is an easy step-over.  Opinions about logging Watoga State Park. Here are some of the comments from the folks who use and love Watoga State Park.  It is …

Why Watoga State Park Should Be Spared from Logging

Why Watoga State Park should be spared from logging.  Speaking as an individual who has a fair amount of familiarity and interest in Watoga State Park, I see the logging of the park as contrary to the intentions of its design and conception nearly 80 years ago.   As a volunteer trail worker I have tread …

Watoga Trail Report February 15, 2018: Monongaseneka Trail

One of the oldest trails in the park was tackled today and I am reverently speaking of Monongaseneka Trail. This trail was in great part built by the CCC; there are still remnants of benches found in the lower portions of Jeff’s Hollow. It is the first trail encountered as you make your way up …

Watoga Trail Report February 13, 2018:

First a big Thanks to Carlene and Jon Cox for reporting trail conditions on the trails that they are hiking at Watoga this week.  Watoga trail report. I returned to Bear Pen Trail today and removed smaller diameter trees on Bear Pen up to North Boundary and one on North Boundary.  There is one tree …