This cache is located close to the summit of Pine Knob which
offers a commanding view of Uniontown and beyond. It is possible to
see some of the taller buildings in downtown Pittsburgh from here
on a clear day. Unfortunately, this spot is also quite the party
place and it gets more than its share of abuse from inconsiderate
persons who just can’t enjoy the view without throwing their
bottles, cans, and other trash from the viewpoint. Pigs! There is
quite a bit of trash scattered around this area in spite of the
best efforts
of volunteers to clean it up. I don’t know if a few geocachers can
make a difference but it’s worth a try. The cache will be found
down in the drop zone. It has a logbook, pencil, and a few trade
items but most of the space inside is reserved for garbage bags.
Please take one or more and pick up as much trash as you can carry
out with you. Take a picture of your cleanup effort and post it
here on the cache page to show your appreciation to the
Pennsylvania DCNR Bureau of Forestry for providing so many
wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation.
Directions: There is an established trail to Pine Knob from Lick
Hollow Picnic Area. This popular state forest picnic area is
located just off of US Route 40 approximately 4 miles east of
Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Lick Hollow is open from 11:00 AM to dusk
from Memorial Day weekend until Labor Day. It’s closed on Tuesdays
and Wednesdays. If it is closed, you can park outside the gate and
hike down the access road to the picnic area and trailhead. This
will add about .5 miles to your hike. It is a difficult but very
scenic and fun hike that climbs approximately 600 feet in 2 miles.
There is also a road which will get you much closer to Pine Knob
and the cache but there are some things that you need to know
before considering this route. Pine Knob Road (T-532) is in rough
shape and there is a locked gate at the lower end. One sign
indicates that this gate will be open in November but another says
that the road is closed December to March. Huh? The gist of this is
that you will probably encounter this gate if you try to drive up
from the lower (west) end of Pine Knob road. It is only about .6
miles from the gate to the cache but it probably wouldn’t be a good
idea to park there and hike up because there are numerous “No
Parking” signs at this potential trailhead. The alternative is to
come in from the opposite direction by driving down Pine Knob Road
from the paved road that runs along the crest of Chestnut Ridge.
This road is called SSR 2001, Seaton Road, Summit Road, or Skyline
Drive. It depends on the map you have or who you ask. The condition
of Pine Knob Road varies from poor to bad. It’s about two miles
down this rough dirt and gravel road to the cache. It will almost
certainly be impassible during winter months. In other seasons, and
in good weather, it probably will not be all that difficult to make
it all the way down and back up IF you have a rugged high-clearance
vehicle. Four-wheel drive would be a bonus. It might be possible to
make it in an ordinary passenger car but I wouldn’t want to try it.
It will be a long walk back to civilization if you damage your
vehicle or get stuck!
Note: The indicated difficulty and terrain ratings assume that
the geocacher will be making the trek from Lick Hollow. Geocachers
who drive or ride to Pine Knob in a motor vehicle should earn their
stars by picking up extra trash!
Waypoints
39° 51.775', -79° 40.675' Entrance to Lick Hollow Picnic Area
39° 51.477', -79° 40.685' Trailhead in Lick Hollow Picnic Area
39° 50.712', -79° 40.980' Switchback (Halfway Point on Pine Knob
Trail)
39° 51.460', -79° 41.250' Pine Knob
40° 26.395', -79° 59.720' USX Tower
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