Cumberland County Highpoint Trip Report

Date: January 26, 2007
Author: Duane Hoffman

Drove up Three Square Hollow Road from its intersection with PA 997 to the crest of Blue Mountain. Heading west along the crest, we passed by the airplane crash memorial and then found the entrance for the Blue Mountain Trail (BMT). The trail is actually a road open to vehicles for access to a few hunting camps. I feel that almost any vehicle driven with care can make it almost all the way to the HP area.

With 15° F temps, 4-6 inches of fresh powder and a strong northwest wind I decided to see how good the BMT was. Seeing on my GPS that the highpoint area was about 2 miles to the west, I figured we could get fairly close. The road proved very drivable and within 0.25 mile of the highpoint area. I decided we needed to earn the high ground. At a very convenient spot where an old woods road crosses the BMT, I backed the truck in and parked.

I walked the last 0.25 mile to the CoHPs. I could not find the small cairn mentioned in a previous report nor the white blazes in the woods marking the county line. I have a feeling that half a foot of snow had something to do with this! However, we wandered around the area and I feel good that we hit the areas of importance.

Myna flushed up 2 ruffed grouse while we were thrashing around in the laurel.