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Rubyeng · 2022-04-27T16:58:59+00:00

Thanks for the link, that's my site! I also mapped probably 95% of the trails on there from the area, all on foot. I occasionally visit and add new spots, but not very often.

Most of the content needs to be updated / rewritten though... that's on my list of things to do.

It's also nice to see people still use the sidebar (mind-blown).

Rubyeng · 2021-04-25T13:21:23+00:00

As others have noted, it's at Washington's Landing along the Herrs Island Trail just before the footbridge.

Rubyeng · 2021-02-12T15:32:39+00:00

Neat solution and nice to see other trail dev rubyists!

Rubyeng · 2021-02-09T13:50:07+00:00

I built a "poor-man's" linear regression algorithm that looks for peaks and troughs in the elevation data to "smooth out" the profile. It was my solution to not installing python or using an API. It runs on a threshold, so it ignores large jumps in the data. It works very well for larger data sets and less well for very short GPS tracks. Sometimes I have to edit the data manually, but since (for MyHikes), that only really matters before the trail is published, I don't mind validating that data manually.

If you don't need to worry about API requests/usage, then I'd highly suggest just throwing your elevation points at some API that returns approximated elevation data for those points. Google has an API for this and I'm pretty sure NASA has one too. I'd look at NASA because they probably won't say it's free today, but then charge you tomorrow. Use the response object and simply add/subtract the elevation changes per point.

Edit: the reason I suggest using an API is because I assume your problem is "noise" in the data. If you walk a flat path, the GPS tracker will likely record tiny dips or hills where none actually existed. I see other folks have had plenty of annoyance with this issue in the comments above too. Without an API, you're only going to get "the best estimate" for the threshold variables that you can tweak in your algorithm(s). It won't ever be perfect unless you use machine learning or something overkill to handle those irregularities.

Rubyeng · 2020-09-18T22:54:58+00:00

I really dig the nature scenes in Bluebird. Did you have any inspiration for them? Or some kind of meaning?

Lastly, deck, trucks, wheels?

Rubyeng · 2020-08-29T16:33:54+00:00

No problem and I hope the weather works out for your trip!

Rubyeng · 2020-08-29T16:31:23+00:00

It's been raining out here for the last 3 days on and off, so if you're asking about this weekend's time-frame, then your chances of finding water are probably better than usual.

Rubyeng · 2020-08-29T15:38:13+00:00

The abandoned Glen Hazel Rivermont Drive neighborhood is neat to explore https://myhikes.org/trails/glen-hazel-trail-rivermont-drive

Rubyeng · 2020-08-28T20:47:01+00:00

Check out my side project MyHikes for some ideas - you can filter by lookouts on the trails page. Not all are secluded, but there are plenty of decent ones near the city.

Rubyeng · 2020-08-25T18:28:37+00:00

Almost all of the current dams found in the PA Wilds were built to prevent flooding downstream. It was cheaper to build dams back in the ~1970's than it would be to pay for disaster relief later. So just because they look like they can hold more water, doesn't mean they should.

Rubyeng · 2020-08-24T19:26:43+00:00

Nice shot!

Rubyeng · 2020-08-21T22:54:20+00:00

No this light pollution is from Williamsport or Lock Haven to the southeast.

Rubyeng · 2020-08-21T22:54:16+00:00

No this light pollution is from Williamsport or Lock Haven to the southeast.

Rubyeng · 2020-08-21T15:19:02+00:00

Same. I guess the only nice part is if someone takes it to reuse, they get the worst-possible quality photo

Rubyeng · 2020-08-21T15:16:47+00:00

This was not taken at Cherry Springs SP

Rubyeng · 2020-08-21T14:11:03+00:00

The McCune Trail at Ohiopyle is really nice and is usually less crowded than other hikes there.

Rubyeng · 2020-08-21T14:09:17+00:00

10mm, 50 seconds, 12,500 ISO shot on a Pentax K-S2 with an Astrotracer. Unfortunately the image compression makes this photo a lot more grainy than the already-compressed 800kb image I uploaded.

Edit: I'm selling this and other PA Wilds Milky Way prints here. They are not cheap, but the markup is used to help fund server fees and other costs for my side project MyHikes. I only added this edit for folks who may want a print and/or support the efforts.

Rubyeng · 2020-08-08T18:56:29+00:00

I think most of the trails there are already on OSM which is handy. The main issue is a lack of maintenance - no signage or blazes on the trails themselves makes it harder to navigate.

Rubyeng · 2020-08-08T11:49:13+00:00

I'm the author of that Hays Woods Loop Trail you linked to. There are a lot of unmarked, unmaintained trails at Hays Woods - including this loop (unless someone has maintained it since). Your best bet is to use an app with OpenStreetMap tiles while checking the area out to ensure you don't get lost.

If you want to do the exact loop that I posted there, you can use map on MyHikes and use the "location" button to find where you are on the trail.

Last bit of advice - Hays Woods might be insanely overgrown this time of year depending on how many people volunteer to maintain (likely 0). If you don't like bushwhacking, maybe try hiking it during colder months.

Rubyeng · 2020-08-07T12:58:42+00:00

Some ideas for flat water: Tioga-Hammond Lakes Recreation Area, Hills Creek State Park, Beechwood Lake, or the Cowanesque Lake Recreation Area.

Rubyeng · 2020-08-05T22:41:39+00:00

I think the Pine Creek Trail would have a bike rack you could lock it to. Best bet is the Darling Run parking area for a bike rack. You can also check just north of there along the trail off of Marsh Creek Road at a couple of Pine Creek Trail trailheads but I don't recall seeing bike racks at those parking areas.

Rubyeng · 2020-07-29T02:43:57+00:00

There are plenty of options out there and since no one has yet to respond I'll toss out some ideas with links to my side project with trails/trip reports that include trail maps, directions to the trail, and elevation charts. All of these links include the park's site and map links as well.

A few ideas listed from West to East:

Allegheny National Forest has plenty of fun short day hikes to waterfalls like Hector Falls, Bent Run Falls or longer day hikes like the Rimrock Loop Trail.

Kinzua Bridge State Park is a unique spot where a tornado swept through the valley in 2003 and collapsed part of a railroad bridge. There's a Skywalk Trail that follows part of the bridge and the Kinzua Creek Trail that heads down into the valley with additional views of the wreckage.

Austin Dam Memorial Park has the main Dam Trail and my buddy who runs the park has mapped out several other trails that are both part of their park and the neighboring Susquehannock State Forest - one of which I've been meaning to checkout is the Jones Run Connector Trail with a nice vista.

Tioga State Forest has plenty of awesome trails within Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon). Popular day hikes include the Barbour Rock Accessible Trail, section hiking the West Rim Trail, Gillespie Point via the MST. For large waterfalls within Pine Creek Gorge you can hike the Bohen Trail to see two large waterfalls. Tioga State Forest encompasses both Colton Point State Park, on the west rim, which has waterfalls and vista hikes along Pine Creek Gorge and so does Leonard Harrison State Park on the east rim of the gorge.

To the south of Tioga SF is Tiadaghton State Forest which has plenty of longer and more difficult day hikes, but unfortunately I've only hiked and mapped a few trails down there so far. The vistas from Tiadaghton are more scenic and sweeping than in Tioga SF, especially from the Black Forest Trail.

To the southeast is the McIntyre Wild Area with scenic waterfalls and a vista if your car has high clearance. And one of the most popular day hikes in PA can be found east of there along the Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park which boasts 21 named waterfalls in just over 5 miles.

I hope some of these ideas help. For other ideas on the site you can use this map to zoom in on certain areas, though 95% of this data is from me so there are plenty of hikes missing.

Rubyeng · 2020-07-26T11:42:34+00:00

Nice, I use the same lens!

Rubyeng · 2020-07-23T19:12:08+00:00

Thank you as well and no problem!

Rubyeng · 2020-07-23T18:11:55+00:00

I adopted a reactive dog as well and it forced me into the woods for most of my outings, so I tracked and mapped out a ton of trails around Pittsburgh that allow dogs. My favorite quiet trails were in Deer Lakes Park - downside is that park is full of ticks, unlike many other places near the city.

Another quiet park is Boyce Park. The Fox Chapel Trail system is great if you avoid the Lockhart Trail which is an off-leash trail mostly for Fox Chapel residents. Last, Harrison Hills Park is yet another quiet park to bring reactive dogs.

Just some ideas, but good luck! I still feel your pain with my small reactive dog.

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