Posts Tagged ‘Montour Trail’
Unknown Country
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
“Nature wants to kill you.” You look tasty to all other creatures, and it’s probably in your best interest to just up and slaughter any animal, insect, or vegetable that you might meet – just in case, and in the name of self preservation. Additionally, there’s a reason our ancestors paved over everything. Further, who in their right mind would want to sleep in a tent – by choice when they don’t have to – in the middle of the woods where there’s bears and Sasquatchs and all kinds of crazy running around in the dark. There’s probably a cache of feral children on the loose out here, howling and scratching about amongst the trees.” That’s what I was thinking when visiting the Hollow Oaks nature trail recently.
As you may gather, a walk in a nature preserve was recently on the menu here in Pittsburgh. There were trees, and a couple of quick running streams of some sort – creeks, runs, something. My shoes became very dirty, and were soon covered in mud. The sun light… the sun light was dappled.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I was on high alert as always in case I had to engage “maximum boogey” runaway mode, and I’ll admit to scanning the tree line for evidences of that monstrous pig/dog hybrid reported to inhabit the deeply forested valleys of Western Pennsylvania which is called the Squonk. The world is a terrifying place full of existential and unknown threats, especially so in areas where nature has not been conquered and reshaped with hammers and scythes. Walls, and doors that lock, keep the Elks out when you sleep.
Seriously though, this was a really nice and low intensity trail through a protected conservation area which winds around a patch of woods and several streams, ultimately joining up with the Montour Run waterway near Coraopolis. Really nice spot, but since I’m a City Boy and anything natural is unnatural and threatening to me… it’s threatening and weird.
What if some predatory bird was to attack and try to take the eyes? Snakes… there’s actual Rattlesnakes around here too. What if I drop my car keys, how would I ever find them? What if a Deer ate my keys? I can’t chase a Deer through the woods…
I once got into a fistfight with one of those dick Canada Geese at First Calvary Cemetery in LIC, have had to fight off a raccoon in the dead of night at the Maspeth Plank Road using the legs of my tripod to fend it off, and I grew up in a neighborhood known for having packs of wild dogs roaming about (1980’s Flatlands/Canarsie.) See? Proves the point. Nature wants to kill you, or at the very least – Me.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
All of the above is a composite of various statements transmitted to me by my parents whenever the subject of leaving Brooklyn for a day and going somewhere nice – “En Da Kuntree” as my Mom would screech – came up. The entire “country” storyline presented to a young but already Humble Narrator would inevitably lead to my hair getting wet causing a condition known as ‘wet head,’ resulting in me getting deathly ill as a result of the moistening, and subsequently being buried “In Dah Grownd.” The final salvo was “Is Dat Whatchu wants… yore a real icehole, don’t know who raised you but youse didn’t learn dis from me, go reads a book instead.” Before leaving the conversation about taking a walk in some sylvan glade, one would be commanded to fetch and prepare a “soda glass” filled with Diet Pepsi and 4, not 3 not 5, ice cubes.
Despite the programmed in script offered above, which is an embedded part of my source code, I actually quite enjoy a nice walk in the country these days. The ‘wet head’ threat is ameliorated through the simple prophylactic of wearing a cap. When I die, my wish is to be sealed up in a large glass ampule filled with preservatives and put on commercial display as a cautionary tale. A traveling freak show, perhaps. That is, if animals don’t get to my corpse first.
At least I’d be continuing to visit new places, in my glassy ampule.
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sweatshirt weather
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After visiting the Fall Run Park in Shaler Township with Our Lady of the Pentacle, we next found ourselves in the nearby community of Etna along the Allegheny River. We weren’t there ten minutes when I heard train horns being blown to the west. A Norfolk Southern train was a-coming.
As a note, I’m playing around with using ChatGPT’s “AI” as a research assistant, so here’s what that machine says about the locomotive pictured above, which is designated as being #7504: according to publicly available records, Norfolk Southern operates a variety of locomotives that were manufactured by different companies over several decades. The 7500 series locomotives are typically EMD SD70ACe locomotives, which were first manufactured in the late 1990s and early 2000s. However, it is possible that Norfolk Southern 7504 may have been refurbished or modified since its original manufacture date, which could affect its specifications and performance.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Additional machine perceptions are offered here:
Norfolk Southern locomotives are typically large diesel-electric locomotives used for hauling freight across the United States. They are designed for high performance and reliability, with powerful engines and advanced technology to ensure smooth operation and efficient use of fuel. Norfolk Southern locomotives are often painted in the company’s distinctive black, white, and gray color scheme, with the locomotive number prominently displayed on the sides and front. It is likely that Norfolk Southern Locomotive 7504 is similar in appearance and function to other locomotives in the company’s fleet, but specific details may vary depending on the model and year of manufacture.
The AI, which is not really an artificial intelligence but is still fairly amazing, uses Google’s data coupled with a learning algorithm to scrape information off the http level of the web. It’s a lot more targeted than Google is these days, as it’s not carrying advertising links or being manipulated by SEO (search engine optimization). Yet.
Also, before you ask, yes I’ve seen the Terminator movies, read Asimov, and Colossus: The Forbin Project remains one of my favorites.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
On Monday the 6th, one had to run a few errands north and west of the Paris of Appalachia and once these tasks were accomplished I decided to take advantage of a 62 degree sunny February day – in Pittsburgh – and head over to a section of the Montour Trail which was next on my ‘go see it’ list. This part of the trail straddles the border of Pennsylvania’s Imperial and Findlay Township.
The machine that goes “ping” says this about the Montour Trail:
The Montour Trail is a multi-use recreational trail located in southwestern Pennsylvania, in the United States. The trail follows the former Montour Railroad line, which was originally built in the late 19th century and served the coal mines in the region. The trail stretches for more than 60 miles (97 kilometers) from Coraopolis, near Pittsburgh International Airport, to Clairton in Allegheny County.
The Montour Trail is a popular destination for hiking, biking, running, and other outdoor activities. It is a non-motorized trail that is open to the public year-round, free of charge. The trail offers scenic views of the surrounding landscape, including forests, hills, and streams. It also passes through several small towns and historic sites, such as the Montour Railroad Museum and the Walker’s Mill Covered Bridge.
In addition to its recreational uses, the Montour Trail also serves as an important transportation corridor for commuters and other travelers. The trail is part of the larger Great Allegheny Passage, which connects Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C., via a continuous system of trails and bike paths.
Overall, the Montour Trail is a valuable resource for residents and visitors to the Pittsburgh area, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation, transportation, and education about the region’s rich history and natural beauty.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The waterway in these shots is called Montour Run. As described in the post about Fall Run Park, the “official and legal”definition of what a ‘run’ is in the Pennsylvania context is “run of the river means a facility where there is a continuous discharge of water without storage and release of water.” Apparently, it’s synonymous with Creek, and is an archaic language artifact just like the usage of the term “kill” is back in NYC.
Computer says:
Montour Run is a tributary stream of the Ohio River, located in western Pennsylvania in the United States. The stream flows for approximately 13 miles (21 kilometers) through Allegheny County, draining an area of about 36 square miles (93 square kilometers).
Montour Run is named for the Montour family, who were early settlers in the region and operated a gristmill along the stream in the 18th and 19th centuries. The stream is formed by the confluence of two smaller streams, North Fork Montour Run and South Fork Montour Run, near the borough of Coraopolis. It then flows westward, passing through several towns and suburbs before emptying into the Ohio River near the borough of McKees Rocks.
Montour Run and its surrounding watershed are important natural resources for the region, providing habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. The stream also serves as a source of drinking water for several communities in the area. However, the watershed has faced environmental challenges in recent years, including pollution from agricultural runoff, industrial activities, and urbanization.
Efforts are underway to protect and restore Montour Run and its surrounding ecosystem. This includes initiatives to reduce pollution and improve water quality, as well as efforts to conserve and restore natural habitats along the stream and its tributaries.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One scuttled about a mile in the wrong direction, encountering this old rail car sitting on the property of a community center in Imperial. I realized that the tunnel I was keen on seeing wasn’t in this particular stretch, so I backtracked a bit after this to go the other way. It was a really beautiful day anyway and it was nice to just be kicking the dirt around in Pennsylvania’s community of Imperial.
Future machine overlord says:
Imperial is a small suburban community located in Allegheny County in western Pennsylvania, in the United States. The community is situated approximately 17 miles (27 kilometers) west of Pittsburgh, near the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Imperial is primarily a residential community, with a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. The community also has a small commercial district along its main road, including a grocery store, gas station, and several restaurants and shops. The Imperial Volunteer Fire Department provides emergency services to the community.
Imperial is surrounded by a mix of rural and suburban landscapes, with farms and fields to the west and north, and other suburban communities to the east and south. The Montour Trail, a popular recreational trail, passes through the community, offering opportunities for biking, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
The community has a rich history, dating back to the early 19th century when it was first settled by European immigrants. The area was originally known for its coal mining and farming industries, and later became a hub for transportation and commerce, thanks to its location along the Ohio River and major highways.
Overall, Imperial is a quiet and peaceful community with a strong sense of history and tradition. Its proximity to Pittsburgh and other major attractions in the region make it a desirable place to live for those seeking a suburban lifestyle with easy access to urban amenities.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One headed in the other direction and was soon walking past the parking spot occupied by the Mobile Oppression Platform, whereupon a humble narrator then set out in search of this particular ‘Enlow Tunnel’ on the Montour Trail which had drawn my attentions.
Back tomorrow with that part of the walk.
I asked the electrical collaborator for today’s post to “describe yourself,” here’s what it said:
EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE…
Actually, it was:
As an AI language model, I don’t have a physical body, so I don’t have physical characteristics like height or eye color. However, I can describe myself in terms of my abilities and functions.
I am ChatGPT, a large language model trained by OpenAI. I have been designed to understand natural language and provide responses that are as human-like as possible. I have access to a vast database of information, including knowledge about a wide range of topics and the ability to perform various tasks such as calculations, translations, and data analysis.
My primary function is to communicate with humans through text-based interactions, such as chat and messaging platforms. I can answer questions, provide information, offer suggestions, and engage in conversations on a wide range of topics.
Overall, I am a versatile and adaptive language model that can help people find answers and solutions to their questions and problems.
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Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Montour Trail, part 2
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
As described yesterday, one recently spent an afternoon at the head of the Montour Trail, with mile zero of the rail trail being found in the Pittsburgh suburb of Coraopolis. I scuttled from the parking lot at mile zero to about two and a half miles down the line, then turned around and headed back. Along the way, there were several interesting POV’s, so I deployed the tripod and attached a filter to my lens, and then got busy.
The “undistinguished” waterway seen flowing throughout today’s post is called Montour Run.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There were lots of fallen trees in the stream. I decided to affix an ND filter to the lens to slow down the light and allow the water to photograph as a mirror. There were several ‘desire paths’ which had been created by people’s feet that led off the Montour Trail and down to the banks of the waterway.
For the most part, it was seldom more than a couple/three feet deep, but the water was flowing pretty quickly. This created a lot of visual distraction, hence the desire to “mirrorize” the surface.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There was one area in particular which caught my attention, a basin of sorts where the water spread out nearby the overpasses of a nearby highway. For these shots, two of the legs of my tripod were actually standing in the water. I had to shimmy down a somewhat natural and quite muddy slope for these.
Worth it.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One has been watching YouTube videos offered by bicycle riders, usually GoPro helmet cam type presentations, of Montour Trail trips. This is part of my remote scouting regime. It lets me know if there’s something specific on any one section of the trail that I might want to seek out (there are rail tunnels and bridges down the line!) and others that I’d want to avoid (the airport connector section of the Montour seems pretty horrific if you’re on foot).
Ultimately, I’m intrigued by all of this. This is EXACTLY the sort of proposal which we Newtown Creek aficionados have been proposing to the powers that be in NYC regarding the Montauk Cutoff for nearly a decade. Deaf ears, back in NYC, unless you start your sentence with “affordable housing.”
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One thing I’ve discovered here in “ridge and valley” country is that the burning thermonuclear eye of god itself may be setting at the same time or later than it does back where I’m from, but because of the terrain the sunset occurs in a quicker interval than it does in a comparatively flat and oceanic terrain. Here, the orb drops behind a hill and you’re done right quick.
Saying that, there’s some serious theatrical level lighting going on during these moments.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One looks forward to more explorations of these amazing examples of lateral thinking, regarding the post industrial utilization and conversion of private property into a public recreational space, which can be found here in Western Pennsylvania.
Back next week with something else.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
Montour Trail, part 1
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There’s a huge network of rail trails in the Pittsburgh area, something which has caught my attentions a few times. Rail Trails follow the “right of way” of some bankrupt railroad which is long gone, whereupon some combination of Governmental and community organizations converted the former trackways into public spaces and parkland. A few weeks ago, I visited a section of the Great Allegheny Passage or “GAP,” which was described here, here, and here. Additionally, visits to the Three Rivers Heritage and Hot Metal trails, as well as the Eliza Furnace Trail, are described. One is slowly becoming aware of the fairly vast network of these rail trails which snake around Pittsburgh.
Last week, I paid a visit to a suburb of Pittsburgh called Coraopolis where the Montour Trail, which follows the path of the defunct Montour Railroad, begins.
I’d visited a couple of sections of the Montour very briefly back in January, in a place called McDonald, where it intersects with another rail trail called the Panhandle. There’s also a Montour trailhead in Clairton, nearby one of the Steel Mills. Wow.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I parked the Mobile Oppression Platform (the Toyota) at the head of the trail at a lot maintained for visitors nearby the Montour Trail’s zero mile marker. There was a Porta Potty there. One gathered the camera gear off of the back seat of the MOP and set off for a medium sized scuttle. This time around, I had two zoom lenses and a tripod with me. One lens on the camera, the other (a 70-300) in the bag. I’d say that about 75-80% were shot with my 24-105 mm lens.
Speaking of shooting, the first mile or so of the Montour Trail allows you egress between the property of two shooting ranges. For the entire first mile and a half, you’ll hear non stop rifle fire. This was excellent. There was so much gunfire going on that it sounded like a rock beat was playing. USA!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
These trails are very easy walking, and a lot of people were biking through, and most of them were sort of pleasant. The custom here is to say hello to strangers, or at least nod at them, while passing by. It’s somewhat ritualized, this friendly thing. As a lifelong New Yorker, this acknowledgment of other’s existence is weird, but when in Rome…
The surface of the trail is mostly crushed limestone but there’s patches of pavement here and there. The grading of the thing is in accordance with the railroad standard of gaining no more than one foot of elevation for every hundred feet that’s crossed horizontally, which is where that “easy walking” observation comes in. A small waterbody was running alongside the trail berm that once carried rails, called Montour Run. In places, the water looked fairly deep. Signage indicated that the run was stocked with trout. There were a bunch of informal trails leading off the Montour which people had graded with their feet. In urban design circles, these sort of corridors are called “desire paths.”
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Roughly two miles from where I started, the Montour Trail intersects with a natural conservation area and a set of side trails maintained by the Hollow Oak Land Trust. One wandered into the Hollow Oak zone for about a half hour, and enjoyed the landscape. I’m definitely coming back to this one in the spring when all of those sticks have leaves on them.
A lot of shallow water was cascading about, running down out of the woods and eventually joining the Montour Run.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A crew of volunteers was at work when I was there, maintaining the trail and clearing brush. This was my turnaround point for the walk, as I ultimately had to back track to the zero mile point to get back to the car. The Montour Trail ultimately goes to Maryland, so it’s clearly not something I’m going to walk all in one go.
The other side trails which branch off of the Montour are going to also get some attention in the fullness of time, but as mentioned many times – one is still scouting.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
After hitting the turnaround point, roughly two and a half miles from the start, one began heading to the MOP. I had noted a few spots which were visually promising on my way to the turnaround point, and since it was now a good time of day – late afternoon – for light…
More tomorrow at this – your Newtown Pentacle.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
The Newtown Pentacle 