Reviews > Books > Trail Guides > The Loyalsock Trail Guide Book > Owner Review by John Corrigan

Personal Biographical Information:

• 38 years old
• Male
• 5'10"
• 170 lbs
• New Berlinville, Pennsylvania (Southeastern Pennsylvania)
• Date:26APR2002

During my tour of duty in the US Navy, I was able to continue my outdoor ways while assigned to shore duty in upstate New York (just outside Saratoga). I camped in the Adirondack Mountains (that was my first chance to experience unexpected winter in October) and paddled the Battenkill River in Vermont several times. Sea duty on a submarine, however put a serious cramp in one's access to the outdoors.

The return to civilian life meant the return to the outdoors. After a short 2 year stay in Texas, it's just too dang hot down there, I still managed a few overnight trips in the Texas "hill" country. I returned back to the Keystone State before a chance to trek through Big Bend could be completed, maybe another time.

Recently I was a Quality Assurance Technician and a Park Ranger so enjoying the outdoors continues on. For a while I even got paid for it. I enjoy flat water canoe and kayak paddling. The relatively new activity of geocaching has also added to the outdoor experience for me. I continue with regular day hikes with dogs by my side. A cabin (known as base camp north)on four acres in the Endless Mountain Region of Pennsylvania has also opened up access to excellent state park and state forest land as well as the Loyalsock Trail. I should clarify that the term "mountains" is somewhat relative as the elevation doesn't push past 2500-3000 feet and our cabin is at 1500 feet. I am still amazed buy the fact that during a recent trip to Yosemite even the valley floor is at around 6000 feet. I envy those with access to "real" mountains!

I am also currently a volunteer search and rescue canine handler. This activity has resulted in the slow process upgrading of most of my gear. Let's just say that is still a work in progress! Although search and rescue doesn't always result in an overnight or multi-day trip, I am required to be prepared and trained for it. Training a search dog results in many hours of trekking through Penn's Woods.

Product Information:

• Presented By: Alpine Club of Williamsport, P.O. BOX 501, Williamsport Pa. 17703
• URL:http://www.lycoming.org/alpine/
• Email: alpineclublt@suscom.net
• Date of Revision: 1999
• Weight: 3.7 ounces
• Length: 6 inches
• Width: 3 5/8 inches
• Thickness: .5 inches
• Available Retail: $4.30 (does not include shipping an PA sales tax where applicable)

Field Information:

• Endless Mountain Region of Pennsylvania
• Go to this link for trail information and history

The Alpine Cub of Williamsport Presents A Guide To The Loyalsock Trail and Side Trails is the full name for this nifty little trail guide. It appears to be produced locally and does not have any ISBN number. I found my first copy on the bookshelf at a local sporting goods store but mail ordered my backup copy directly from the Alpine Club of Williamsport.

The cover is made of a sturdy plastic. The pages are a little heavier than standard paper but will tear. The pages are sandwiched between the covers and held in place by those cotter pin type widgets that poke through the punched hole and then are bent flat to hold everything together. This is a nice feature because you can add and subtract pages from the guide to customize it to fit your needs.

The guide begins with a short history and description of the Loyalsock Trail. It also details the types of side trails and how all the trails are blazed or marked. Some brief rules and regulations and trail tips as well as contact information for the state agencies that oversee the government controlled sections.The guide divides the trail into eight sections. Each section begins with the section mileage, estimated travel time and intersecting road names. Then there are entries very much like a travel log with mileage, a brief informational description and the elevation. 

SECTION ONE-4.8 m 4 hrs.
PA Route 87 to Little Bear Creek Road
0.00 Loyalsock Trail leaves highway and enters woods. Register. 665'
0.05 In a short distance, Trail turns right on old woods road. 800'
0.21 Trail turns sharply left and begins steep ascent to ridge.
0.58 Sock Rock. Switch-back and continue ascent. 1400'

Included with the guide are three maps. They are two color (green features on treated white paper) USGS topographic reproductions that have the trails drawn in red. There are scales and a north arrow on each map. They are clear and easy to read but do not have coordinate data in the margins. Being a map nut I usually always carry the full color USGS topographic and either a state forest or state park specific map for the section I am hiking.

I have hiked section 8 and a sections in World's End State Park near the Canyon Vista and the descriptions have been accurate. Scattered throughout the guide are also little reminders and hints such as "Give A Hoot- Don't Pollute" or "Use A Portable Stove".

This is a great little guide filled with information that doesn't take up much room and at less than five bucks you can buy a spare as well.

Reviews > Books > Trail Guides > The Loyalsock Trail Guide Book > Owner Review by John Corrigan