| Route: | Mike's Mini-mOUnTaiNBACK (Thanks to Mike Dooris, with apologies to Mike Casper and Steve Bodner) | ||||
| Mileage: | 8.5 miles. | ||||
| Hillage: | The first half is a constant uphill. The
way back is the way you came.
Total elevation change: 1069 ft.
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| Description: | Mike's Mini-mOUnTaiNBACK starts in the
parking lot of the Tussey Mountain Ski Area, which is about 6 miles outside
of State College off of US Rte 322. Take Rte 322 (Business) East from State
College. This is called South Atherton Street in State College. About 2
miles past Boalsburg, PA, there is a sign for the Tussey Mountain Ski Area.
Make a right at the sign onto Bear Meadows Rd. Less than a mile up the
road is the Tussey Mountain Ski Area. Park in the parking lot.
The route begins on Bear Meadows Rd. Start
up the mountain. About a half-mile up the hill, make a right on Laurel
Run Rd. Continue on this winding gravel road, passing two switchbacks,
for just about 3 miles. A quarter mile or so past the second switchback
is a gated gravel road on the left. Take this road for the final one mile
ascent to the lookout. At the lookout, take a rest, take in the view, then
turn around and head back the way you came.
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| Remarks: | Mike's Mini-mOUnTaiNBACK is a challenging
out-n-back hill run on gravel roads in the mountainous Rothrock State Forest
land near State College. NVRC Webmaster Mike Dooris likes to run this route
with his son, Tim. You may be wondering about the funny use of capital
and lower case letters in the name of this route. The name is a take-off
on the name of a local long-distance team relay race, the Tussey
mOUnTaiNBACK 50 Mile Relay. In 2000, Mike Casper and Steve Bodner concocted
a 50 mile tour of the Tussey Mountain area and co-directed a great relay
race. Mike's Mini-mOUnTaiNBACK samples a small part of the course.
The course itself is challenging, but beautiful.
Most of the route is shaded and cool in the summer. In the winter, the
roads can be un-runnable. There is an occasional vista. At the top there
is a ranger's cabin and lookout tower, as well as some impressive radio
towers. You can relax and enjoy the view, climb the tower, marvel at the
rockiness
of the Mid-State hiking trail, which passes near the tower, and then head
back down the mountain.
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| Map: |  |
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| Profile: |  |