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Try Prowling in Rock Run
Try Prowling in Rock Run Rock Run is a wild trout stream tucked away in Moshannon State Forest. The stream and surrounding forest are two of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. They have a wilderness quality to them that is increasingly difficult to find. The trails are well marked with blue blazes and signposts but the best idea is to wander along the stream itself. There won't be a clear path, and you'll probably get muddy, but you'll feel like you're the first person to ever set foot there. The stream isn't particularly hard to find but it takes some effort to get there. The hike in can be as short as one mile or as long as four depending upon your choices. The trails wind through forests filled with ferns and moss-covered rocks. Birch trees are common here. Deer are abundant. Silence fills the air. The silence is deafening. To walk in this area alone is almost eerie and not for the insecure. We found one other group of hikers, and they were as surprised as we were. It was the first time I ever saw another person in that part of the woods. Rock Run is special to me because it is the only place where I have seen a panther in the wild. It may have been a mountain lion, I cannot be sure of the specific genetics, but I know it was a cat larger than me. I was exploring one of the Jeep roads using a mountain bike. One of the things I like about riding mountain bikes is they can increase my chances of seeing wildlife because I cover more terrain and my speed catches animals unaware. I was coasting downhill about 20 mph when I came upon a large, dark creature walking in the road. At first I thought it was a small bear because its profile was roundish and it appeared to be 30 inches tall. It was traveling the same direction as I was. Then it stopped and looked back over its shoulder at me. I instantly realized I was looking at the backside of a giant cat. We locked eyes for a split second, and it crouched down low, dropping its head below the shoulder blade, exactly the way a house cat reacts when startled. Then it sprang up and leaped into the dense brush, turning 90 degrees in the air and bounding across the road in a powerful, coordinated motion. The sun reflected off muscular, dark velvet skin, almost black, as it gracefully stretched out from leading paw to the tip of the tail; I think it measured a solid 7 feet long. It looked remarkably like a smaller version of the Nittany Lion statue on the Penn State campus. This all happened in about three seconds. I was grabbing for all the brakes my bicycle had and never took my eyes off the cat. It disappeared into the dense brush but left me some tracks in the sand. The right front paw print, the paw that would have been loaded the hardest to push with, measured about 8 inches across. The deep indentations of claw tips were obvious. I was as excited as a person can be. It remains one of the most emotional encounters with wildlife I've ever had. I sincerely hope no other human ever sees that cat again and that it lives a long and natural life. The cat's chances are good, as this is one of the least-used areas in Moshannon State Forest. Most folks play in the lake or explore the trails in the bog. Rock Run is five miles away in the northeastern part of Moshannon. Rock Run's waters lead to Interstate 80 before joining Black Moshannon Creek. Geologically, this is the Allegheny Plateau, which means rolling hills and valleys. It does not have many tall mountains or long ridges. This makes for easier hiking but harder navigation. You can't orient yourself to any visual icons, like ridgetops, and you won't find any overlooks to offer clues. Just dense woods as far as the eye can see. It's very easy to become lost or disoriented when exploring off trail. A compass and map is a good idea and remember to tell someone where you are hiking. I won't say it's a hard place to find but it can be confusing. There are many old Jeep roads and gas line trails throughout the forest. The stream is accessible from several trails and Jeep roads. They have other names and merge with other trails but I've always called the whole bunch of them Rock Run Trail. Some trails are shown on the Moshannon State Forest map available free from the foresters. Unfortunately this map is a little vague and incomplete. For detailed maps and hiking directions look for Jean Aron's excellent book, The Short Hiker: Small Green Circles, available at most bookstores. |
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