Laurel Hill Walks

Out for a Spin

2013-05-06T21:48:00.001-04:00

Just a beautiful weekend to take the Ruckus out for a spin...so I decided to visit one of my favorite haunts...

The first time I ever saw this wall - my eyes were drawn to the beauty of it by the reflection of the sun bouncing off the sandstone.

It starts off low - before rising in the center and ending back low again. Very Native American look - in the form of a rattlesnake effigy. Much like an similar example at Stonewall Jackson State Park in West Virginia.

The total length of the wall is about 1/4 mile - pretty nice size.

The structure as a whole - shows considerable age...

Showing the wall snaking it's way up the hill. As you can see - there is a lot weather related damage to the structure. I had intended to shoot the entire wall - but right about here - it sounded like a coyote den was very close by - you could hear the pups whimpering - so I turned around at this point - because I didn't want to piss the mother off...

So I dug up some old shots of the end section - where it begins to taper down...

To the end here - with the stones leaning against each other - much like the scales of a tail.

Right where the wall stops - is this nice size mounds that again - shows considerable age. There are also some other structures at this site that point to Native American - along with another wall of similar size and three other smaller walls.

Rock Shelter

2013-04-06T20:13:00.001-04:00

With most of the snow finally gone - rockpile season has begun for me. This rock shelter is located on the hillside above Conemaugh Gap. The scale is hard to tell from this shot.

From this angle - you can get a better looks at the scale.

This shot is a bit on the bright side - April sun - plus old camera - which meant some of my shots didn't turn out.

View directly in front of the shelter. There are also a set of nice springs located in an area behind the shelter. No rockpiles in this area - that I have seen yet - but there looks to be some possible larger rock mounds a couple of hundred feet from here. But they still have snow on them.

Not much - but could be?

2012-12-16T20:27:00.004-05:00

The weather has been great for searching - too bad I have not been finding much - except for this possible structure. I am standing along the ridge line of the Conemaugh Gap.

Interesting though with the notch-like theme on the right hand side.

The left-hand side continues the notch - with what looks like a possible Manitou. I will say that the possible structure points North and even if the area was clear cut - there would be no way for this to be used for either a sunrise or sunset points. But the moon or stars - that's another question. My E-Trek Garmin does not seem to want to connect to any satellites - so I can prove that point at this time.

I sort of guess as to the exact location via Google Maps - there are a few cairns scattered around the area - but they are so low to the ground - that there could be more for all I know.

Possible Rock Shelter

2012-10-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

Just a beautiful day to be in the woods. RJ wanted to ride on the back of what I call bear rock - with cub rock on the lower right.

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But enough about bear - here is what I am talking about. It's larger than it appears by this shot.

But before I show the front of this - RJ is heading up to a sort of tunnel or trench like structure.

This is actually smaller than it appears - room enough for one person at a time to go thru.

This also has parts that show some fire cracked rock damage. Though you can't tell from this picture - the whole things goes slighty up hill.

Looking back towards the way you go in.

Looking around at the top here - I think there could be a couple of possible rockpiles. But will clean some of this off another time to get better understanding of what may be going on here.

Looking back towards the whole of the trench

This juts out more than it appears - I was running out of card space at this point. Besides this picture isn't the greatest - it was just a hard place to shoot.

RJ peeking around the other opening. I will be going back to take better pictures of this structure in the future.

Gettysburg Turtle

2012-09-14T11:27:00.001-04:00

Took a weekend trip to Gettysburg and what do I see on Little Round Top - looks like a turtle to me.

Another tree in a pile

2012-08-13T04:07:00.006-04:00

Another of the rockpiles with a tree

Rockpile with tree

2012-07-18T17:36:00.001-04:00

Since it's too hot and I don't go off trail in the summer. I was going thru some pictures from a couple of months ago. This is a nice size rockpile with an even larger set of trees growing out of the top.

A Couple of Mounds

2012-04-29T21:26:00.001-04:00

Exploring an area along the top edge of the Conemaugh Gap. This possible structure caught my eye. It's made up of three large stones - and a dip in the ground - which is where I think they got the dirt of the oval type mound.

It's made up of dirt and rock. Then found this a couple of hundred feet away.

Nice size mound of dirt and rock overlooking the gap. Directly underneath it - could be a possible rock shelter.

This is steeper than it looks - which is why this picture isn't the greatest.

Quick Spin

2012-04-13T17:17:00.001-04:00

Took the Ruck up the mountain for a quick spin - in a spot I have never been before. Parked - looking for signs of rockpiles and found....

This nice size rockpile - just off in the woods. This area looks down into the Conemaugh Gap - and I have found other rockpiles in another section. This is sort of untouched territory for me - since in the past it has taken me - far too long to walk into the area - that's why I bought the Ruckus.

New Exploring Partner

2012-04-11T15:44:00.000-04:00

Just got my new 2012 Honda Ruckus. There are spots up the mountain that take an hour to walk into - thought this might come in handy when I don't feel like walking the whole way in.

Point Found Near Rockpile

2012-04-07T08:25:00.000-04:00

I found this point last month on a trip up the mountain. I actually kicked it up with my boot. I don't really spend much time looking for points - since it's so darn hard on the eyes. What I thought was interesting was - that I found it a couple of hundred feet away from this:

Turtle-tad

2012-03-24T15:33:00.000-04:00

I find this possible structure so interesting. Sort of looks like a cross between a tadpole and a turtle. It's a low to the ground wall (tail) and it has a rounded end - that looks like the head of a turtle. Given the history of this piece of land - there was a Native American woman married to a free African-American man around 1800. She along with their eight children died before 1820. This area also has a large wall along with a couple of rockpiles and what's lefdt of a very large and old chestnut tree.

Mounds and Skull - Lower Yoder Township

2012-03-03T20:07:00.001-05:00

It was just a beauitful day for being in the woods. Spotted this large, mess of a rock mound right off the bat.

RJ is standing on what's left of am old military road that probably dates from the French and Indian War.

Showing off a section of the originial Mountain Road - that dates to at least 1774 according to 'Frontier Forts of Western Pennsylvania'.

I just can't seem to ever stay from this stone skull - I always take a couple of shots of it when passing this way.

I think I am about the only one that thinks this is something - and I always will.

This is the first mound I ever found many years ago and it will always continue to be my favorite. This is about 1/2 mile from the stone skull.

Closeup - but around the other side

A hollow - that looks like it was built that way.

Found this new small rockpile nearby.

Conemaugh Gap - Hillside

2012-02-18T15:42:00.001-05:00

Just a beautiful day to head out for a little rockpile hunting - at the beginning of the Conemaugh Gap - Haws Pike side. Thought this was neat - boulder with a little fossil action going on.

I just love stuff like this.

Spotted a couple of nice size - oval - rockpiles - though it's probably pretty hard to tell from this shot.

Four stones - that make up a circle - pointing towards the gap.

A nice size - round - rockpile with a tree growing out of it.

This thing just caught my eye - most likely natural - but it looks like a kind of saddle.

I'll tell you though - sitting on this stone - you do get a nice view of the valley down below,

Another large rockpile - with an even bigger tree growing out of it.

Another large rockpile - with a triangle stone that caught my eye.

And finally this example

Stone Cabin - Lower Yoder

2012-01-30T21:26:00.002-05:00

A possible stone chamber - known as the 'stone cabin' in Lower Yoder Township. As luck would have it - it's a site first brought to my attention by Norman Mueller and Kathy at http://twoheadwaters.blogspot.com/. I missed it - in my own neck of the woods. And in a strange twist a reader at my sister site Vintage Johnstown sent in these two pictures of her dad at the structure in the 1980's.
The story goes that it is a hunting cabin used for decades. It's been on my list to search for alot of reasons - but the main one is that the location of this structure lines up with some large rock mounds - a few of miles away. I would like to thank Kathy at twoheadwaters for pointing this out to me. This used to be a popular GPS cache spot till the neighbors started complaining.

Evans Hill Area - Part 4

2012-01-21T13:56:00.004-05:00

Part 4 and a wrap up of my visit to Evans Hill. I am now going to head to the area of the woods directly behind where I am standing - where I last left off HERE.

These two things caught my eye. One is a short, rectangle like, stump of a wall like thing - more cigar shaped than anything else and the other is a circular mound that looks burial to me.

This example is exactly the same as the type I've found elsewhere.

This possible structure right by it - on the other hand - I'm not very sure of. Could be field clearing - but to me - it does look like a long rockpile - it does have some age to it.

As far as you eye can see - more rock on rock.

And small rockpiles.

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Now heading back out to the car - a different way than where we walked in and in the words of my 7 year old nephew - "what a beautiful view" - I have to agree - with a nice rock on rock example pointing the way.

Nice size cairn that shows its age.

Another mess of a cairn.

Back to back cairns - I've posted example of these structures before.

Trying my best to show them both in one shot.

Closeup of the cairn on the upper left of the previous picture. See that triangle stone - it points north - according to my GPS.

RJ proudly showing off his coyote skull he found there.

Another mess of a cairn.

From the other side.

Another rockpile

This one and this next example.

All in all - this site is alot to take in. When we were almost done walking around - one of the homeowners (who is nice to us) stopped to talk. He owns the land where THIS GRINDING STONE is. I was asking him about his property - because I'd spotted lots more rockpiles and a wall that shows some age. He told me - the wall was there before him as were some of the rockpiles - but not all though. He said he'd made some of them clearing his backyard.

Wrapping up this long, four part series...there are more walls and rockpiles out there that next time I go out I will get some shots of - once the snow melts that is. My opinion of the site hasn't changed the more I explore the area. I believe it was once held as a very sacred and ceremonial place - more so than most of your average sites. I believe that the area now destroyed by the strip mine - most likely was like this section - full of rock on rock and small rockpiles.

Evans Hill Area - Part 3

2012-01-15T19:59:00.005-05:00

Out of the woods and back to the field full of very large - round rockpiles. RJ is about to check out this rockpile - which I believe is field clearing with an older - round rockpile in the distance.

This is one of those rockpiles that shows up in the 1939 aerial shot. But like I said - looks like field clearing. Though having said that - it is built up on the bottom like the others - I guess someone could have dumped these larger stones on top. But I really don't think so.

This is a shot of the large rockpile that was in the distance. Off to the left hand side (not shown on this picture) was this...

Is this possible rock mound - but I didn't get a chance to check this possible structure out better - just off in the woods.

Another rockpile in the field - made up of larger stone - which again looks more like field clearing. But it looks like there might be something off in the distance - that I didn't have time to follow up on.

Another rockpile - with the previous pile behind it - this is hard to tell - considering the size of the tree growing out of it. But I do think it's more likely to be field clearing.

But now we're heading to a section that I do believe are structures of very large size. See what I mean about bigger stone on the outside and smaller used in the middle.

Some of these larger rockpiles are built up higher on one side - actually they are all built up (like a ramp) on the same side of each of these.

And again - it looks like a possible manitou stone in the upper left hand side.

Another rockpile - but first - before I talk about this one - there is another rockpile underneath where that tree fell in the distance. But I didn't get a chance to get any shots of it.

This stone is actuallly wedged in there pretty good - with what looks like some stray bullet damage.

The center of the structure.

This is another rockpile - note the 'ramp'.

RJ heading to the ramp.

It's built up more like a small wall - with the mound off in the distance.

Another rockpile in the same area - that looks like field clearing to me.

The thing is just a mess.

RJ off to check out another of the rockpiles.

Again - larger stone on the outer ring - smaller towards the center.

Evans Hill Area - Part 2

2012-01-13T16:22:00.002-05:00

Part Two - from my trip to Evans Hill in Indiana County. This is the first of the very large, round, angled up rockpiles there. This is number 5 on the map.

This is 2012

And this is the same area back in 1939. Pile number 5 is in the middle of the red circle. I honestly can't help but feel that those rockpiles are meant to be viewed from either the ground to the mound or even better yet form a constellation - I have been going thru some - but haven't come up with a match yet. But my hunch is that if you are on the rockpiles themselves - I wonder what the night sky looks like directly above them during different times of the year. The areas circled in blue look like they had rockpiles in 1939 - but I didn't get chance to follow up in those areas.

This is the rockpile that has been re-worked as I have stated in previous posts. I believe that the manitou stone in the center came from the outside of the ring of stone. It was set up like the manitou like stone in the front here - the other piles show this same kind of stonework feature. Bigger stone on the outside and smaller in the center.

I'm heading now to the lefthand side of the woods.

This is the section that contains some very large stone ringlike structures with the mound off in the distance.

Some of these shots didn't turn out very good. For one thing - they look better in person and two - they are just too large. Looks like at least one or two possible standing stones.

Another stone circle-like area.

Another feature hard to see in a photo - what you are looking at is one of a couple of semi-circle earthen rings that are sprinkled thru out this section.

Another one that is hard to see.

Another circle of stone with what looks like a "tail" on the left hand side.

And another ring of stone - I know that's hard to really see - but on site - these structures just pop out of the landscape.

Evans Hill Area - Part 1

2012-01-09T21:30:00.000-05:00

Spent some quality time exploring the woods all around the Evans Hill Mound. And everytime I go - I am even more convinced this site is Native American and a Solar Calender. But the problem lies in not being able to search the site in gridlike patterns - that I like to do. As I have said before - the locals are none too friendly. And there were three of us - my little nephew and reader Bill Carney. So whenever I go out there - I always feel like this time - I'll be arrested. I'm not used to that. On my side of the Laurel Mountains - no one ever bothers me - which is the way I like it. But enough complaining. And on a more positive note - on to my visit:

Imagine the area around the mound in the shape of the letter U. The mound would be at the top and this area would be the back, bottom left of the U. Walking into the woods from the strip mine road (remember the strip mine is behind this site) . These simple, multiple rockpiles and rock on rocks greet you. There are actually seven of these types in this shot.

Some are large and some of smaller along with some following in lines to each other.

Little RJ taking his measurements of this nice, simple rock on rock.

A semi-oval rockpile with the strip mine in the distance. The ever expanding strip mine has already destroyed a lot.

More rock on rock - besides being timbered in the past.

It's probably hard to tell from this shot - but this rockpile is oval and shows it's age.

Three rockpiles here.

The next couple of pictures shows different angles of this possible structure. I'm not entirely convinced this is something. But having said that. It is a rockpile - shaped like a cigar - it's those two rocks tipped together that are interesting. Looking through the opening - you can just barely see THIS ROCK SHELTER.

And this makes it even more interesting with two possible manitou stones touching - surrounded by a circle of rock which is on top of a small low to the ground boulder.

Another closer look

This is the view looking out the opposite direction

This rock on rock reminds of a bird effigy

A cairn showing it's age

Just out of the woods with the mound and larger rockpiles in the distance.

Evans Hill Mound - Winter Solstice - Background Information

2011-12-31T15:31:00.048-05:00

This is an image of the area we have been studying from 1930 courtesy of http://www.pennpilot.psu.edu/. Thought I'd take the time to recap some of the discoveries we have been making into one complete post. I've circled the mound at Evans Hill - the arrow is pointing to one group of rockpiles (there are many more rockpiles there) and the area circled inside APX is where THIS ROCK SHELTER is located along with more rockpiles and two sets of walls.

This is a shot from the rock shelter - the shelter also has a unique feature - two grinding holes on the roof.

And this is the Evans Hill mound as seen from what's left of the rock shelter. To recap some of what Reader Bill Carney and myself have been discovering - first off in the area near the rock shelter:

Rockpiles of this type - low to the ground - but slightly built up

Cairns - in this example - turtlelike - there are many more structures in the area - that I could see - but we just didn't have the time to investigate.

And two sets of walls - this is the first shorter with bigger stone. Now there used to be a farm there - the walls most likely probably date from then. At least I think this one does...

But this one which is longer - looks to me to be a bit on the older side and it's built to withstand the wind - I have a feeling this wall might pre-date the farm. For more on this area CLICK HERE. Now on to the area getting closer to the mound.

Cairns such as this example - the whole area within at least a quarter mile is loaded with possible structures.

Along with this beautiful grinding stone - when we stopped at the home of the owner of this land - his yard had more possible cairns - but I felt kind of funny about taking pictures there. So at this point - we have a rock shelter, many rockpiles and cairns and two sets of walls - that we have found so far. Now onto the mound in question.

You can see two piles in this shot and what looks like a possible manitou stone. To help give you an understanding of the area - so far we have found structures to the left, middle and righthand sides of this photo along with assorted arrowheads. The pile in the foreground looks promising - CLICK HERE for the video Bill shot....but unfortunately....

When the snow melted this rockpile as you can see has been reworked into a shooting target - so it's impossible to tell how this possible manitou might have been placed or used within this rockpile.

The following three images of the site is courtesy of Kathy K - she runs twoheadwaters.blogspot.com and these Google Earth images were written up on a post about the site CLICK HERE at rockpiles.blogspot.com.

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In regards to this Google Earth shot Kathy says "I don't think Google Earth accounts for the tree line. I also think the accuracy of Google Earth is distorted because the image comes out as if you are floating about 10 feet off the ground (this is a rough guess based on USGS topo compared to the Google Earth image altitude). First hand accounts are, of course, much better than simulations, but I find it's great for looking at sites in a general sense. It also keeps me looking at the horizon whenever I'm at a site, even if it's not clearly visible from a structure, I try to move around until I can see the horizon and take a picture."
Now this is an actual shot of the sunset

I'd asked Bill - if he had a chance to head out to the site last week for the Winter Solstice - to see if maybe on the off chance the area might be set up as a "calender" marking the change of seasons. This is what the setting sun looked like on 12-24. Interesting - but this theory of mine could very well be why this site is set up the way it is - but does need alot more investigation to prove and how the rockpiles might lineup and track the skies. CLICK HERE for more video Bill shot of this section. Here are some stills of a couple of more circlelike rockpiles found there:

Circle 1 - the mound is just beyond those trees

Circle 2

Circle 3

Circle 4

And circle 5 - but hold on to your hat - it gets even better - we also have the following even closer to the mound:

More rockpiles

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this one looks like it might have a possible hollow

and if these rockpiles aren't enough....I also have the following for you:

A bunch of these smaller type rockpiles and for dessert

this nice little split-wedge example to nibble on.

This site holds such great promise - and it's going to be a project to mark the exact GPS of all the structures involved - and that's going to take some time - but that's the way it is - and we have searched only some sections quickly - there is a vast area yet to be explored - and we are on a deadline for certain areas because the strip mine located there is expanding - there is also a Marcellus Gas Well in an area a couple of miles behind the mound. But when it comes to taking shots of the mound itself - so far we have been unable to convince the landowner to let us on the actual mound. In fact we got booted off - none too nicely when we asked - and we were very polite about it.

This site is driving me crazy because I am thinking about it all the time - because with hunting season and my shift and the occassional snow - it just hasn't been in cards for me to spend quality time there.

Evans Hill Area

2011-12-20T21:46:00.002-05:00

Reader Bill Carney has more pictures from the Evans Hill Area in Indiana County - mound and rock structures. On the other side of the mound - is the spot where we got tossed out - none too politely. The rockpile in the foreground - looks like a maintou stone lining up to the rockpile in the distance that also looks like it has a manitou stone.

This area also contains grinding stones, more rockpiles and a rock shelter besides some points found in the surrounding fields. The biggest danger to this whole area though - is from the nearby strip mine. I can't wait to head back out here exploring. It absolutely fascinates me! Bill also sent in a couple of pictures to rockpiles.blogspot.com and CLICK HERE to read that post.

Possible Burial Mound - Lower Yoder

2011-12-20T21:28:00.001-05:00

Took my little nephew out to teach him about tracking deer and ran across this nice size rock mound in Lower Yoder. I was busy teaching him about staying safe in the woods - so I didn't really spend alot of time checking this structure out. Except for the fact that it is made up of stone.

There are a couple of others in the same area - last seen HERE. And they look exactly like the ones off of Decker Avenue.

Lower Yoder Cairns

2011-12-11T18:35:00.001-05:00

With too much snow on the top of the mountain and deer season wrapping up. I decided to head to a safe zone and for the first time ever - took my little 7 year old nephew RJ with me to explore a patch of woods - he might possibly be standing on a large mound - but I think it's most likely just simple glacier debris. I have to get better pictures of this one.

Ran across alot of different features - trouble is - some are very hard to make out. Spotted this very nice rock on rock.

I'm hoping I can get him interested in this hobby.

The top stones sort of remind me of a birds head as does the side view.

This is as clear as it will get - because when you walk around to the other side - the large amount of debris makes it hard to see.

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See what I mean - this is the mess that greets you behind the structure. It's hard to tell from this picture - but there are other small stones in between the blanket of debris.

Off to the left of middle - a very rare piece of quartz. I can count on my hand as many times as I have ever run across quartz. Maybe they just didn't use it much or didn't have it available - either way - it's rare in my section of Pennsylvania.

This is behind it.

Spotted a couple of simplier rock on rock structures. Without cleaning it off - it feel's like there are more stones underneath the debris.

Another - that the front sort of resembles a turtle.

From behind

Another simple rock on rock

Another

And another

All in all - I will be going back to explore this area further. And RJ had a great time - even brought home some chunks of slate - showed him how to break it apart to look for fossils - which is now his new hobby.

Laurel Ridge Rockpiles

2011-12-04T22:14:00.003-05:00

With hunters all over the place - I headed to what I thought was a safe site - since it's listed as an Orange Zone Area. Did see one guy illegally hunting - I had orange on and I'd hardly be mistaken for a deer - bear yes...deer no. Spotted what's left of this beauty.

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What's left of this tree - did all this damage.

Moving on - while standing here - I spotted this:

I know it's hard to tell from this shot - but this is a nice - low to the ground rockpile.

I stood on it and could feel the stones underneath my feet.

This large tree is growing out of a rockpile. Larger - yet still low to the ground rockpile. Again, I tested all the way around - and there are stones underneath those leaves.

Another low to the ground rockpile with a hollow. But since there are other piles damaged by trees - that could also be what caused this hollow.

Another angle of the same rockpile.

Heading over a short distance to my favorite tree. This 300+ year old Lady of the Forest and what is underneath have fascinated me for the last couple of years. This is situated on a gentle slope.

A beautiful, small standing stone and on the right hand side of the picture - what looks like alot of flint-knapping debris.

I rarely disturb anything - but I have dug down into this area - and this debris goes down at least a foot. Strange thing is - there is no outcrops of black slate in this section of the mountain.

There is also some lighter shades of slate - sprinkled around.

Low to the ground rockpile.

Along with a little rock on rock action.

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Heading out - and this is yet another large - 300+ year old tree - that has managde to not be chopped down.

Tremont Rockpiles

2011-12-01T15:17:00.003-05:00

These couple of rockpiles are on the hillside above my house. This first picture might be kind of hard to make out. Shooting low, leaf covered rockpiles can be kind of tricky. In fact there are at least 5 rockpiles in this area - but only two piles look good on camera.

Came upon this larger one - the rockpiles on this side of the mountain are made up of smaller stones - since the larger ones are not available.

A closeup and better look - it's a very nice size.

A very nice vista view - St. Clair Road would be down the bottom of the hillside.

Going up higher - ran across this cairn.

Another rockpile right by the cairn.

And another smaller one.