| Upper
Pine Bottom State Park |
NR,
Cook Forest |
| Sep
10, 2003 18:35 PDT |
Bob,
I chose a different route back to civilization from the Lebo Run
N.A. along RT44 which brought me down Upper Pine Bottom Run and
through Upper Pine Bottom State Park. The only thing that lets
you know you're in a state park is that there is a sign and one
picnic area. The rest is a nice curving road down the valley
with the run twisting on the right and left side of the road.
Keep your eyes open for some decent sized hardwoods here. There
may be some decent white pine on a bench to the north just out
of sight from the road about 3/4 of the distance down from the
top of the watershed. I did stop a couple times to take some
height measurements on some trees in the valley along the stream
that made my feet hit the brakes.
There were a number of white pines, hemlock and even sycamore in
this valley as you work your way down the run which is actually
a tributary of the Pine Creek Gorge. The white pine height of
121.5ft wasn't out of the ordinary, but I was surprised to find
a nice sycamore in the valley to 121.5ft, and a gnarly tuliptree
to 129.3ft. These were the only three trees I could measure
before I ran out of time. There very well may be a couple of
surprises to be found here, not only in the Upper Pine Bottom
Run, but in the Pine Creek Gorge watershed as a whole. Just
guess where I'd be if I ever moved closer to this area. The Pine
Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon) has the potential to house some
noteworthy trees and virtually unexplored old growth areas.
I really have no reason to leave the state of PA. There is just
so much here, that I could easily spend a lifetime exploring all
these coves for old growth.
Dale |
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