rock climber's delight

About the book:
Hiking the Allegheny National Forest: Exploring
the Wilderness of Northwestern Pennsylvania
by Jeff Mitchell
Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA
paperback, 162 pages, $12.95

64 detailed hikes in Warren, Forest, McKean, and
Elk counties. In addition to the Allegheny National
Forest, it includes contiguous state forests:
Chapman State Park, The Akeley Swamp, Cook
State Forest and others.
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Rock climber's delight. A favorite spot for rock
climbers and hikers. The trail below Rimrock features many
interesting geologic formations. This part of the region was
covered by glaciers in the ice age. This area stays extra cool
during hot summer months.

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a wilderness roadmap
book review by Chris Lareau

will be undergoing a big makeover this year including enhanced
amenities.
  With this book, if you can find a town, you can find any trail you're
looking for. Every description gives easy-to-follow directions so
you won't get lost in the woods before you get to the woods. For
example, 19 different trails are easily accessible form Warren
(attention Dept. of Civic Pride: this is the largest number of any
town in the area). From the south, Mitchell leads you from
Interstate 80 to Cook Forest and from the east he take you from
Smethport and Bradford to the North Country Trail and Handsome
Lake.
   Hiking the ANF features 64 different trail systems, starting with
Kinzua Bridge State Park and finishing with the well-established
Tanbark Trail south of Warren.
   All a hiker needs now is to find Route 62, Route 59, Route 219,
or Route 6, some light gear (which Mitchell gives specific
recommendations on) and a day off. With this paperback you get
all the details you need to pick the day-trip you'll enjoy most. It's a
long drive up here and you don't want to waste it on the wrong trail.
   The title of the book is much too long. It should have been
shortened to "Hiking Pennsylvania's Wilderness," because this is
the only place in the state where you can find it. At least you can
say that in one breath and, really, there are more woods up here
than just the ANF. An index should be added to the book so you
can read it in the car on the way to the trails. To really enjoy the
book the way it is now, you have to sit down in an easy chair in a
quiet room somewhere, something most hikers don't do, folks.
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