This tract of Elk State Forest is not far from the hike I did a few days earlier at W3/PW-076 2655, and I stopped by on my way back to Pittsburgh. It was the start of an oppressive heat wave that would be accompanied by wildfire smoke from the north, and the temperature was already above 90 F here. I parked at the gate for Whittimore Tower Road and followed the trail.
It was a well shaded climb with a large number of fungi of different shapes growing throughout.
Closer to the radio transmitter site and bright red-painted firewatch tower, the trail opens up into a field with tall grass. This looked like it would have been a fun tower to climb, but like most of these towers in the state, it was gated off.
- Trailhead: 41.47832, -78.26548 : Gate of Whittimore Tower Road
- Maps: [AA3TZ SOTA] [Elk State Forest Map]
- Route: 1.8 mi RT hike, 300 feet elevation, along Whittimore Tower Road
- POTA: US-5467, Elk State Forest
Tom Zajdel 