My Bridge Project

Once or twice I've mentioned this project and after almost ten years of involvement, the end is in sight.

Today the main part of the bridge was set in place over Mill Creek on old Ligonier Valley Railroad abutments.

Yes- a real rail to trail project.

To see the latest, see the link below.

http://ligoniervalleytrail.blogspot.com/2013/04/construction-progress.html

Mt. Rainier National Park - The Green and Mean Side

We were lucky to have a sunny weekday to explore. Plan to avoid the week-ends if you can.From the Mt. Rainier National Park site:

The current snowline is around 5000 feet. Due to heavy snowfall this past winter (2010-2011), melt-out is not expected until sometime in August.

For this reason we did not get to hike the meadows, but there was still plenty to do and see. Amazingly, flowers were blooming heartily next to the piles of snow along the roads and trails.

Cougar Rock. Do you see it?

Silver Falls - A beautiful hike!

This bear was browsing on the side of the road.
VIDEO OF BEAR BELOW SUNRISE AT MT. RAINIER NP.

Cascade Mountain Fox
We aren't supposed to see this fox, but they are coming to people for food.
This one was carrying a chunk of bread.

Grove of the Patriarchs

VIDEO OF SILVER FALLS

See the National Park site for more information.
http://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

The Trail Project Lives

Once again, I have to show you my other distraction. We have broken ground on the trail, and by this week-end, I hope I can say we have a half mile completed and ready to ride. Go to the other blog I administer, Ligonier Valley Trail, to see this month's progress.

Regional Trail Corporation (RTC) Retreat

Hannah Hardy, President of RTC and Peggy Pings from the National Park Service.

Yesterday evening and today, I spent my time with a group of really dedicated trail enthusiasts at workshops and brainstorming sessions. I'm putting a little slide show in the right column for a few days in your honor. Enjoy!

I was invited by Malcolm Sias from Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation to attend and learn. I am hoping in the future, the Ligonier Valley Trail will become part of the RTC, but we have work to do before we get there.

I want to say hello to a few people that I have met over the five years with the Ligonier Township Recreation Board, and thank them for their continued interest and support. Also I met a few new folks that I hope to consider friends as we work to similar goals in the future.

As to my dream of someday having a trail through the gorge between Latrobe and Ligonier, these are samples of a solution used in Collinsville, CT.

Farminton Valley Greenway: http://www.fvgreenway.org/

CT DEP: http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?=

If you are coming to visit SW Pennsylvania, as I want all of you to do, please take a look at these sites and their links for fun things to do around here.


http://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/parks/site/default.asp


http://www.youghrivertrail.com/regional_trail_corporation.htm

Soon, I am hoping to have a blog dedicated to information on the Ligonier Valley Trail. It'll be on my blog list, and hopefully the Ligonier Living blog when I get it rolling. It will be full of information, pictures and links to get our trail built and used. I'll move the slide show there too!
Stay Tuned!!