PA - Shawnee State Park

 We've been to this park a handful of times but never really explored it. On the most recent visit, I decided to make stamping my State Park Passport a priority. 

We had came to the park from Meyersdale and made this a nice stop to stretch our legs and an alternative to the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The alternartive from the south and west is via PA 31 from Somerset and points west. You will know you are near the park when there is a new flashing light and the sign for the park. This is PA 96 and is a connector to park areas on the western side of the lake.

After crossing the PA Turnpike, you will see a standard State Park Sign and the park enterance is on the next right. Upon entering the park is the Park Office. There you can find in the foyer to the left informaion on the park and all things Bedford County. Here, there are passport stickers. As I did, if the sign on the door says "open" for the park office, you can go in and have your passport stamped by the park staff. Generally the office is open from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM during the week, year round.

There is an addition for park program and inside that foyer through the glass doors, you can access a unisex restroom and a small exhibit display that is accessible whenever the office is closed.

Campground

Across the rosad from the park office, you will find the entrance to the camground. The entrance road crosses PA 96 and then you arrive at the check-in station, ampethieter and extra care parkng. There, the road splits into two but is in of itself a looping road.

Keeping to the right, you enter the pet sites and pass the water supply tower and reservoir. Further down before the road loops back, there will be a gravel loop leading to Loop B. There are RV Pull through sites that are pet friendly accompanied by a showerhouse. Access to the Lost Antler Trail is also provided here.

Back to the main loop, shortly, you will see a older brown cement block showerhouse to the right. A gravel loop goes behind the building and these sites in particular are standard non-electric sites and do not allow pets. This is Loop C. Near the showerhouse and and to the left is Loop A, these sites also do not allow pets, Some sites are electric and a few pull-through sites are not available.

Loop D and F are the next turn past the Loop C Showerhouse. There is also a smaller amitheter between loops C and D and a connecting path between the two. While most of the campsites in Loop D has electricified campsites. It is also home to thre camping cottages and a yurt. At the end of Loop D is Loop F. It has a modern showerhouse that is ADA Accessible along with campsite 242. The sites inside annd on the stretch of the loop have electric and there is one pull through site available. 

Returning to Loop D and going back to the inner circle and befire making your way out of the campground, to the right is Loop G. Another copletely gravel loop, it is pet friendly and is home to 1 of two campground host sites. Loop G has a showerhouse and the distinct pleasure of having two “Great Gathering Friends and Family” two-unit full-hookup sites, and each Great Gathering site allows tents and two full-hookup camping units for a total accommodation of 15 people. There is also a modern showerhouse in loop G.

Camping Cottages and Yurt

At Shawnee, there are three Camping Cottages and a Mongolian Style Yurt. They are in loop D.

Cottage #1 is in the campground loop near the showerhouse are handicap-accessible as well as site #187. Cottage #2 and #3 along with the Yurt are on a seperate lane and has a water point at the end of the lane.

Each cottage sleeps five people and has:

• Wooden walls and floors
• Windows
• Electric lights and outlets
• Electric heat
• Bunkbeds (single/single and single/double)
  
• Porch
• Picnic table and fire ring

A short video from Maksim Outdoors on YouTube showing you cabin number one within Shawnee State Park Pennsylvania.

A yurt sleeps five and has:

• Canvas and wood walls, with windows
• Wood floor
• Four-burner electric range
• Microwave
• Countertop and cabinets
• Refrigerator
• Table and chairs
• Electric lights and outlets
• Electric heat
• Bunk beds (single/single and single/double)
• Skylight/vent
• Porch
• Picnic table and fire ring

PA - Laurel Ridge State Park - Route 653 Area

Last, but not least in my endeavor to complete my birthday journey across the ridge is the state park actually named after the Laurel Ridge, and is named as such. It completes the Laurel Hill / Linn Rum Complexes on the ridge. As I head from the southern end of Laurel Hill via the Barron Church and Ream Roads before stopping at the Barronvale and Kings covered bridges, ironically connected by a legislative road named Covered bridge road that. Finally I head west on PA 653 through a combination of woodland and forest land before crossing back into my native Fayette County and the park. 

Noticing that the Park Office has since been shuttered and only the facility is utilized. I proceed to the Cross-Country Ski / Picnic Area / Trail Head. Laurel Ridge is a very fragmented park and was created first for the purpose of establishing the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail and as such many of the fragments of park land are for that purpose. However, this area, while near the southern end of the ridge is where administrative features were once centralized.

Concession Building

This trail-head was expanded in the 1980s by the Pennsylvania Conservation Corps, and initiative to train young Pennsylvanians in a way that the Civilian Conservation Corps did in the 1930s during the great depression. One of the first things they did over two seasons was construct the Cross Country Ski Concession that was once able to be opened up in the warmer months for a pavilion. This also gave the ability to have modern multiple occupancy restrooms for the users and serve as a picnic area. Now, this building is only opened on winter weekends during concession season as conditions allow. 

Warming Hut

As such, over a decade ago, the concessionaire in cooperation with DCNR constructed a warming hut a short distance away that contains a single use restroom for skiers that is opened in the winter when the concession is closed and fees are not collected to maintain the ski trails. During the warmer months, other than the picnic tables, closed buildings and signage, unless you rent the concession out, all you can use for comfort is a portable toilet in the parking area. 

As in all LHHT trail heads, there are parking spots, and informational kiosk and a pair of metal mailboxes at each trail head approach that serve as voluntary registration points. There is a water spigot at this one and a historical marker from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy noting the establishment of the park.

The trail, The Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail specifically, extends 70.5 miles across Laurel Ridge from Ohiopyle, 18 miles south to Seward near Johnstown, about 50 miles north of here. There are "shelter areas" 8-10 miles apart from each area that provided by DCNR as conditions allow, but down and dead wood is allowed to be used. A fee is collected for overnight use of these areas.

PA - Laurel Hill State Park - Park Office, Visitor Center and CCC Monument

 In the middle of the bottom half of my birthday "ridge" state parks tour, I had finished up completing Linn Run, Laurel Summit and Kooser, where I learned from their park office that I could obtain the passport stamps for Laurel Hill and Laurel Ridge at their park office. I also wanted to visit the visitor center and CCC monument as well.

It is a quite easy four mile ride to Laurel Hill from Kooser, heading east on PA 31 to the other side of the tiny hamlet of Bakersville. Just past that, you will see the directional sign for Laurel Hill, turning right on what is called the Trent road heading a mile. In this case I choose to take the park entrance road near the top of the hill into the scenic section of the park. I am used to when having a camper in tow continuing to the end of Trent road and heading in near the bottom of the park, but as we are touring today, we go for a scenic tour 

Entering the park and going through the small hollow before cresting hill the park office is on the right. This park has the most significant collection of structures constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The park office is no different. Of a stone nature, it has a porch and gender-specific single-user restrooms to the side with a ramp in front of them. I enter the office and get my passport stamped and learn that the former park office at Laurel Ridge is no longer manned and will need to get it stamped here, however I did make a plan to stop at the adjoining trail-head there anyway.

Returning back outside, I see that the interpretive display has been replaced since I last photographed it over a decade ago, so I photograph it again, collect brochures, return to the car and head through the park to the visitors center. On the way, I see various wildlife and flora and fauna and decide to see the beach area another time.

Arriving at the visitors center, I head up the front steps and into the visitors center. It has since changed over the years with more displays including a CCC room, displaying artifacts from that program. Heading back outside, I safely cross the street and look at the CCC monument and photograph it before returning to back tot he visitor center side of the street and to the rear I see a modern accessible restroom has since been added to the rear of the structure since years ago, replacing a portable toilet that used to be in the parking lot. Campers are leaving the campground lining up to empty their tanks from the weekend.

PA - Kooser State Park

 Continuing my birthday journey of crossing Laurel Ridge collecting passport stamps, I have already visited Linn Run and Laurel Summit to the north I retrace my steps back on the Laurel Summit road and now continue across the Hickory Flats through the Forbes State Forest and enter Somerset county utilizing township and legislative roads crossing the Pennsylvania turnpike and ending up near the tiny hamlet of Bakersville and continuing west a bit on PA 31 to the Kooser State Park office.

As seen in prior visits, former pit latrines have since been removed with park modernization, including those on the Lake Look road. As such, a modern accessible restroom has been added to the park office building where there is also information and a phone where local, collect and toll-free calls can be made.

The park office was open on the day of my visit, which I always like to go in and see the drawing of the cabin colony by a former park employee. Meanwhile, I get my passport stamped and learn that the park office and visitor center at Laurel Hill is open. I collect information and proceed to the Campground as it is near turnover time and it is Sunday to scope out the sites for a future visit.

Proceeding down Tree Army Road from the park office, the cabins are to the right. Similar to Linn Run there is a modern cabin for disabled guests and the remaining 8 are served by a modern shower house, though there are gender-specific multiple occupancy sides there is also a family assist restroom within the cabin colony available for users.The cabins, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps are of various design and capacities. 

At the far end of the 260-acre park is the balloon loop campground. The campground is totally pet friendly and as you enter to the right in the space that once served group tenters is now three single walk-in sites and the campground playground. While many of the sites are for RVs, there are a few walk in tent sites. Some are pull through and others are back in, mostly on gravel pads. Pull throughs include sites 1, 2, 5, 6, and 9 that seem distanced along with 12, 31 and 32 that comprise the standard electrical hookup while 17, 18, 20 and 21 are pull throughs that contain full hookups, Site 16 is the location where the former walled tent that some parks in this region used to have and as such, there is a pavilion and under its respective picnic table. Site 19 is tent-only as it buffers the tributary leading from Kooser spring, the park's first water supply before recent public water arrived via the county water system in recent years. Site 24 isa walk-in site clinging to the hillside.

Making your way through the campground is the modern showerhouse on the right a modern shower house, though there are gender-specific multiple occupancy sides there is also a family assist restroom serving the campground, replacing the pit latrines of decades ago. Following the campground loop you will pass the host site #30, a pull through with electric along with 31 and 32 that are solely electric pull throughs. Heading back the way you came in as it is the sole way in and out.

Retreating back to the office, you can head down the Lake Loop Road where picnic tables and grills dot the roadside before a bridge crosses Kooser run. You will reach PA 31. You will see a large parking area for the day-use area as you exit the road, but you will need to again head west on PA31 a bit to reenter this. Below the parking area you will find a modern restroom building that has changing stalls within in for beach patrons. This replaced the former pit latrines and open-air changing stockade that was here for several decades. Towards the left below the parking lot is the dam breast which you can cross and explore the peninsula where in the center has many foot traveled trails. Back on the side where you came land on the opposite side of the restroom facility, you will find a sand beach,former lifeguard station that is no longer in use and a wood and steel playground. Following the main patthway into the woods is the Mighy Oak pavilion, the parks only pavilion that is one of only a few things left of the day use are of the Civilian Conservation Corps. The only other thing that could remind you of this is the stone building near the restrooms that for a long time had vending machines for patrons, however it has since been closed off. Heading further, you can follow the trail and cross Kooser run to the park office.

PA - Laurel Summit State Park - Revisit

 

On what is my "ridge" birthday tour of state parks, after visiting Linn Run and learning that the stamp could be obtained there, and been there a few years ago, we save time from that and chose to visit Laurel Summit. Located just 3.8 miles from the Linn Run Park office following the paved Linn Run Road and until reaching the juncture of the gravel Hickory Flat and Laurel Summit Roads, we head just a piece on Laurel Summit Road to the small six acre park on the left. 

While originally a state forest picnic area before becoming a state park in the 1980s. The park connects to trails in the Forbes State Forest district including the Wolf Rocks trail and the Picnic Area trail in close proximity to the Spruce Flats Bog. There are information kiosks about the trail system adjoining the park, the history and the friends' group.

There is a pavilion that can be rented and it was in use the day of the visit. There is an accessible water fountain and spigot connected to a small shed that seemed to contain the pump for it. There are also a pair of single-gender specific pit toilets that are quite aged along with vast parking and picnic tables and grills.

PA - Linn Run State Park

For my birthday, I chose to get back and visit some of the state parks that I missed to really enjoy from years ago due to the bridge closure in Linn Run and Laurel Summit and the rain that occurred during my past visits on the Laurel Mountain.

As such, we started our tour of the parks on the ridges with the northernmost, Linn Run. This park as had not changed much since my childhood. There are two picnic areas that each have a playground, pit toilet and other related standard picnic facilities for their users. However they each have their own unique natural features to them that make them special. 

The northernmost area as soon as you enter the park, Adam (or Adams Falls as some call it) has several unique features to it. Two of those are located as soon as you turn off the main park road into the Picnic Area and travel down the Flat Rock Trail. Its namesake is the feature at the end where there is a natural waterside where there are tourists who take advantage of sliding down the creek in the warmer months. However, along the way, there are old stone foundations of an old hunting cabin that was here before the park was acquired over 120 years ago.

Above the parking leads up on a ridge above the creek where there is a the Adam Falls trail that leads to a very impressive veil waterfall that you can cross the in front of on a unique footbridge. Further down the road you will find some picnic tables and the park's only picnic pavilion along with a pit latrine and picnic tables.

Back on the main park road and passing some hunting cabins and to the right you will see the Grove Run Picnic Area. The less popular of the picnic areas of the park is known for the spring where locals were known pre-pandemic to obtain drinking water from, however at the present moment because of water quality standards, that does not seem to be occurring. However in the picnic area proper there is a playground and pit latrine along with other standard features.

Retracing your steps back to the main park road once again you will soon approach the Cabin Area to your left. These cabins were constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a federal program to employ young men during the Great Depression. This was ended by World War II. There are ten cabins with one having an addition of a modern bathroom for disabled guests. The park's policy is not to rent that cabin for guests if no remaining cabins are left for the night. The remaining cabins are within walking distance to potable water or either pit latrines or a modern building containing running water, flush toilets and showers. The capacity of the cabins along with their makeup but at minimum have a kitchen and living space with the standard furnishings and electric lights and outlets.

Standard Information Kiosk

Coming down the park road from the picnic areas, the first road to your left, a gravel lane, crossing Linn Run has Cabins 9 and 10 dotting the hillside. These cabins are served by a nearby pit latrine and a water spigot. 

Back down along main road, respective driveways lead to each cabin 8, 7 (the modern/disabled cabin), the a driveway to a parking lot and a pit latrine. The next driveway leads to the remaining cabins. As you enter, the driveway splits, with cabins 4, 5, and 6 to the left and 1, 2, and 3 to the right. Between the road going to cabins 1, 2, and 3 and the main park road, you will find the showerhouse serving as the restrooms comfort station for cabins 1 through 6 and the showers for all but Cabin 7. According to the park lodging guide there is a restroom for each of the 9 cabins that each have a sink, toilet and shower.

Park Office

Adjacent to the cabin area, again to the left, is the park office that for being of a rustic nature is quite impressive. Approaching the front porch, is what was a former pay phone stand that was originally crafted by park employees No longer housing a pay phone, it does have a phone that can accept local, collect and toll free calls. To the right of that is a information kiosk that had park and lodging information along with directions to the nearest medical facility.,

On the porch is information about the cabins, a container containing prestamps for the parks of the complex, and the porch of a wrap-around nature leads to the left where you will find a single user restroom (the only modern, accessible restroom open to the public, excluding the pit latrines). It is equipped with a sink, urinal and toilet and seemed clean for withstanding the weekend. Continuing to follow the porch leads to a area along Linn Run that has some nature-crafted seating. 

Back in front of the park office and to the left, at the far edge of the parking lot, there are interpretive panels about the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Flight 93 NM - Stoystown. PA (Tower of Voices)

 On our journey home from the Country Roads Shop Hop, my teammate stated that she did not see the Flight 93 National Memorial and since we were going right past the approach road, she would like to see it. Other members of our team (including myself) visited the NM in June,. When we visited it was a drizzlly day, however according to the park's webpage, weather changes quickly here and it was t-totally different.

We started out at the Visitor Center complex where I shown her the flight path and overlook there befire retreating to the Visitor Center itself to get warm. We looked at a few panels but it was crowded so we went to the gift area since I didnt visit it the last time I was here. I saw a new "forgot the passport" option. This was only 95 cents and I thought it would be a good option as I did not have my passport and there was a new Tower of Voices Stamp as well as a updated date.
Anyway, we  made our purchases and decided to skip on the memorial plaza and instead visit the Tower of Voices, as it is only about a month old . We pulled in the parking lot a it is still under improvement We walked up to it and looked at it. The Park is still testing the sounds of it so it isn't complete as of yer We explored a littl then left as we were nearing hour 9 of our trip.

Overview
The Tower of Voices serves as both a visual and audible reminder of the heroism of the forty passengers and crew of United Flight 93. On September 09, 2018 Flight 93 National Memorial will host a dedication event to complete the final phase of construction and complete the permanent memorial.

The tower is conceived as a monumental, ninety-three feet tall musical instrument holding forty wind chimes, representing the forty passengers and crew members. It is intended to be a landmark feature near the memorial entrance, visible from US Route 30/Lincoln Highway. The Tower of Voices will provide a living memorial in sound to remember the forty through their ongoing voices.

The tower project will be constructed from 2017 to 2018 with a dedication of the project on September 9, 2018. Funding for the design and construction of the project is provided through private donations to the National Park Foundation and the Friends of Flight 93 National Memorial. 

 Uniqueness of Design
There are no other chime structures like this in the world. The shape and orientation of the tower are designed to optimize air flow through the tower walls to reach the interior chime chamber. The chime system is designed using music theory to identify a mathematically developed range of frequencies needed to produce a distinct musical note associated with each chime. The applied music theory allows the sound produced by individual chimes to be musically compatible with the sound produced by the other chimes in the tower. The intent is to create a set of forty tones (voices) that can connote through consonance the serenity and nobility of the site while also through dissonance recalling the event that consecrated the site. 

 Design Features
The tower is approximately ninety-three feet tall from the base to the top with some height variations. The Tower cross section is a “C” shape with a fifteen foot outside diameter and eleven foot inside diameter. The “C” shape allows sound to reflect outwardly from the open side in a fan-shaped pattern. The chimes will be suspended a minimum of twenty feet above the main plaza and will be suspended from the interior walls of the tower up to the top. 

The tower walls will be constructed of precast concrete segments linked by connectors. The chimes will be constructed of polished aluminum tubes ranging eight to sixteen inches in diameter and approximately five to ten feet in length. The size of each chime is dependent on the musical note and associated frequency that it is intended to produce. Chimes of this size and magnitude do not currently exist in the world. The chimes are wind activated and will have internal strikers attached to sails projecting from the bottom of each chime.

 Surrounding Landscape
The tower is located on an oval concrete plaza that is built on top of an earth mound to create an area more prominent on the landscape. The plaza includes two curved concrete benches facing the opening of the tower. 

The tower is surrounded by concentric rings of white pines and deciduous plantings. The concentric plantings may be interpreted as resonating “sound waves” from the Tower, alluding to the auditory qualities of the chimes housed within. A direct paved path leads to the tower from the parking lot. A longer, meandering crushed stone path winds through the trees and allows visitors an alternative approach to the tower. All other landscaped areas of the project will be planted with a native wildflower seed mix similar to other landscaped areas of the park.