I got my pup Rex out on his first backpacking trip this spring. Greg invited me along on a tour of the “Green Monster,” a little-known loop in northern PA more frequented by extreme trail runners than hikers. We did have some route-finding issues, so we extended the normal 50k to just under 34.5 miles over a few days of hiking.
Despite having no major attractions, three things made this loop hike notable for me:
1. Very little rockiness—compared to almost any other trail in PA.
2. Well-maintained path—also better than many trails throughout PA (though not always well-blazed or marked).
3. No people! This trail is known for runners, for 15k, 25k, and 50k loop options—but sees very little hiking due to the other much more popular trails not far away, such as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. We didn’t see anyone else during the entire hike, except for some maintenance workers at road crossings. I loved the solitude.
Full Trip Report Here.