Evening star., 1938-05-29
HORSE SHOE TRAIL
APPEALS T0PURSE
Hostels Dot 117.MiIe Path
for HikerS and Riders
in Pennsylvania. F..

in Pennsylvania.
VALLEY FORGE, Pa, May 90
\ With summer on the next page of the
calendar the beckoning finger of ma
ture becomes increasingly irresistible
and the urge to wander along a wood
land trail or through fields or open
country, whether idly or with pur-
pose, creates impelling visions of a
care-free interlude away from it all. u
For those whose wish Is but to
stroll idly for short afternoon there
are hundreds of trails close by the
larger cities of Pennsylvania. and in
1.-THE smaller towns the country is but
few minutes away, but for the hardy
lovers of the long trail there are too
few blazed pathways into the solitude
Of the deep woods.
OF the few that exist none in this
section of the country is better known
than the Horse Shoe Trail. stretching
lit miles across rolling farmland and
over rearing mountain from historic
valley Forge to the tiny village of
Manada Gap, hidden deep in the
Kittatinny Mountains, where 1t joins
the Appalachian Trail, linking Maine
with Georgia.
The popularity of the Horse Shoe
Trail has been increasing annually
with the gradual turning of Ameri-
can youth toward inexpensive, out-of-
door sports to Offset meager incomes,
fn lnco ho of 10
pression-seized nation in the entranc-
ing vista of rolling hills and shady
valleys
Overland mixers are not alone in
admiration of the Horse Shoe Trail
its name implies that Riders who
have wearied of fiat, monotonous bride
H3aths seek the trail as test of horse
'and horsemanship. knowing that they
will find al types of terrain along the
1l7-mile stretch.
A comparatively new development
is the establishment of youth hostels,
offering low-cost lodgings to young
persons, combining comfort and ac-
commodations with the pleasure of
cooking out ef doors over wood fire.
The cost of overnight lodging in the
hostels is less than 81. and since
most are farm homes, an atmosphere
is maintained in keeping with that
of the trail itself
About a dozen hostelS are located
along the trail, making overnight
stops possible. Quarters for horses
SEe also available at intervals along
the route. Details are embodied in a
recent w. P. A. Federal Writers
Project booklet, The Horse Shoe
Trail which traces the route and
locates hostels and other accommoda-
tions and describes interesting and
historic points along the way.
From Valley Forge stepped in the
history of the Revolution, the trail
Vanders through the beautiful back
country of Chester County, passes
sleepy farm villages. climbs Adams
town Ridge, an elevation of 1000 feet;
drops into a wide valley and climbs
again onto Black Oak Ridge, passing
through game refuge where variety
Of wild animals and birds can be seen
by the simple expedient of turning
the head-no bars, no cages, just ami
mails in the Wilds to which they we're
born.
The view from Eagle Rock is seen,
TIE the trail drops again to visit his
foric Cornwall Mount Gretna Mill
tary Reservation is passed and the
model town Of Hershey with its ever
present aroma of chocolate. Beyond
Hershey the trail plunges into the Blue
Mountains with the fragrance of pine
and the clean smell of the open fields.
Long ascents test the endurance of
the hiker who wishes he were on horse
back excepting, of course, the strong
legged few who revel in such exertion)
and puffs laboriously upward and
thrills as the crest is reached.
The end of the trail is reached at
HtIanada Gap. a scattering of houses
inclosed by the precipitous walls of
mountains that rise sharply to height
of 1900 feet.
All of this information, the direc-
tions, the where" and why and
what" of the Horse Shoe Trail is con-
tanned in this 32-page booklet. COM
piled, written and carefully checked
by the Pennsylvania unit of the Fed
eral Writers Project under the direc-
ton of Paul Comfy French. State
director, sponsored by the Horse Shoe
trail Association and published by the
William Penn Association.
Lovers of the trail will find the book
let must" for their libraries, and
the thousands whose inclinations to
seek the pleasure of the dusty country
lane or the pine-crested mountain
trail have never developed beyond
the armchair dream stage may find
here the inspiration to escape the city
for the adventure, peace and beauty
of this. Pennsylvania most beautiful
footway.