Laurel Highlands Ultra's Home Page
On March 31st, 2010 I attended an informational meeting hosted by the DCNR. The purpose of the meeting was to inform the public of the many recreational activities offered by the DCNR in many of the parks in our area. Of course, the most anticipated topic was the bridge closing on the LHHT. I am happy to report that the bridge replacement project is in progress, and that a new bridge could possibly be in place prior to the 2012 race. This would mean a detour for only two years. This is encouraging news indeed.
As of April 26, 2010 the DCNR has begun marking the official trail detour. They have also posted a map of the detour, which you can find here: LHHT Detour
Sign the petition to save the bridge by clicking here:
Save the Bridge
After you sign the petition, you will be directed to a donation page. Don't panic, your name has
been recorded. The donations are for the ipetition website, not the bridge.
The Western PA Trails group has added additional information on their website. Click here to go to the page. There is contact information and a sample letter you can use to contact key folks within the state government.
The DCNR has informed us that the bridge carrying the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) over the PA Turnpike will be closed and most likely will be removed as it has deteriorated enough to pose a hazard to vehicles traveling on the Turnpike beneath it. There are plans to replace the bridge as part of a Turnpike widening project slated for the near future. The local media has reported that the bridge could be replaced by 2015, but we have not been able to confirm these reports. For those of you who are not familiar with the LHHT, the bridge is a major link and is not one that can be easily replaced.
As of January 14, 2010 the Laurel Highlands Ultra will continue as a point-to-point race. We are in contact with Michael Mumau (the park manager) and have planned a suitable detour. Presently, we are planning on running a detour which will add approximately six and a half (6.5) miles to the course, resulting in a race of 77 miles. The detour will divert runners from the trail onto a gravel road, then on to a short stretch of paved road which will then cross the Turnpike. After crossing the Turnpike the course will turn onto another gravel road before re-joining with the LHHT just North of the Turnpike. We believe this minor course change will provide the safest route. An out-and-back course was considered, but was dismissed because of the dangerous drop offs that would be encountered on the trail back to Ohiopyle. The combination of the drop-offs, rocks, darkness, possible rain and fog presented too many hazards to tired runners.
Because of the extra mileage, the time limit for the full distance race will be twenty-four (24) hours, an increase of two (2) hours. The time and pace charts have been updated to reflect this.
Please contact me directly if you have already entered the race, and have concerns about the course change.
As always, feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you have. My e-mail is on the contact page of the website.
Thank you in advance for your support of the race as we move to get through this inconvenience as smoothly as possible.
Copyright © 2005 - 2010 Richard Freeman