Conococheague Mountain
Encyclopedia
Conococheague Mountain is a long and narrow mountain located in the far western corner of Perry County, Pennsylvania
, United States
. The highest point on the mountain is a summit known as Round Top which rises to an elevation of 2190 feet (667.5 m) and is located at the very southern end of the ridge.. The mountain is almost entirely located in the Tuscarora State Forest
, and has numerous hiking
trail
s and dirt road
s, including Bryner Road, New Germantown Road, and the Iron Horse Trail. The nearest town to the mountain is Blain
.
The mountain was logged
around the turn of the 20th century, and continues to be logged to this day. Beech
, Oak
and hemlock are the most common species of tree. There are also several groves of White Pine
, which were planted for logging purposes. A logging mill was located at nearby Fowlers Hollow State Park
, which was turned into a campsite
and picnic area in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps
.
On March 18, 2002, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
called for volunteers to clean up an illegal dumpsite at the top of the mountain, which had just been named one of the state’s "Dirty Dozen" under the state's Forest Lands Beautification Program.
On April 6, twenty volunteers tackled the Burns Valley Overlook site, removing tire
s and trash from the mountain with contractors removing trash for proper disposal and recycling
. The volunteers and contractors removed seven tons of trash, 1.7 short tons (1,542.2 kg) of scrap metal
for recycling, and 402 tires, restoring the site so that the views can be enjoyed.
, bear
, turkey
and grouse
. Numerous hunting
camps located along the Sherman Creek valley travel up the mountain every year to pursue game, most commonly deer and turkey.
Perry County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 43,602 people, 16,695 households, and 12,320 families residing in the county. The population density was 79 people per square mile . There were 18,941 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The highest point on the mountain is a summit known as Round Top which rises to an elevation of 2190 feet (667.5 m) and is located at the very southern end of the ridge.. The mountain is almost entirely located in the Tuscarora State Forest
Tuscarora State Forest
Tuscarora State Forest is a Pennsylvania state forest in Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry District #3. The main office is located in Blain in Perry County, Pennsylvania in the United States....
, and has numerous hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trail
Trail
A trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s and dirt road
Dirt road
Dirt road is a common term for an unpaved road made from the native material of the land surface through which it passes, known to highway engineers as subgrade material. Dirt roads are suitable for vehicles; a narrower path for pedestrians, animals, and possibly small vehicles would be called a...
s, including Bryner Road, New Germantown Road, and the Iron Horse Trail. The nearest town to the mountain is Blain
Blain, Pennsylvania
Blain is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 252 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
.
History
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
around the turn of the 20th century, and continues to be logged to this day. Beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
, Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and hemlock are the most common species of tree. There are also several groves of White Pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
, which were planted for logging purposes. A logging mill was located at nearby Fowlers Hollow State Park
Fowlers Hollow State Park
Fowlers Hollow State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Toboyne Township, Perry County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park is from Blain just off Pennsylvania Route 274...
, which was turned into a campsite
Campsite
A campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
and picnic area in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
.
On March 18, 2002, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources , established on July 1, 1995, is the agency in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania responsible for maintaining and preserving the state's 117 state parks and 20 state forests; providing information on the state's natural resources; and...
called for volunteers to clean up an illegal dumpsite at the top of the mountain, which had just been named one of the state’s "Dirty Dozen" under the state's Forest Lands Beautification Program.
On April 6, twenty volunteers tackled the Burns Valley Overlook site, removing tire
Tire
A tire or tyre is a ring-shaped covering that fits around a wheel rim to protect it and enable better vehicle performance by providing a flexible cushion that absorbs shock while keeping the wheel in close contact with the ground...
s and trash from the mountain with contractors removing trash for proper disposal and recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
. The volunteers and contractors removed seven tons of trash, 1.7 short tons (1,542.2 kg) of scrap metal
Scrap Metal
Scrap Metal were a band from Broome, Western Australia who played rock music with elements of country and reggae. The members had Aboriginal, Irish, Filipino, French, Chinese, Scottish, Indonesian and Japanese heritage. The band toured nationally as part of the Bran Nue Dae musical and with...
for recycling, and 402 tires, restoring the site so that the views can be enjoyed.
Activities
The mountain supports wildlife populations of deerWhite-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
, bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
and grouse
Grouse
Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. They are sometimes considered a family Tetraonidae, though the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae...
. Numerous hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
camps located along the Sherman Creek valley travel up the mountain every year to pursue game, most commonly deer and turkey.