Miners & Rock Run Lycoming County 7/5/08

[troutbert]

MKern wrote:

There is food in the stream, just not a lot of it. There is a fair midge population, but as far as huge mayfly hatches, there really isn't anything consistant. There used to be mines at the source.

MKern, do you have any more information about "mines at the source." I walked up a ways above Hawk Run, to the junction with the North Branch, and it does look to me like there might be acid mine drainage in the creek. A friend of mine who's pretty experienced about streams thought so too.

But I've asked people whether there were mines further up, and no one seems to know if there were for sure, or where the might have been, or where mine drainage is coming in (if it is for sure).

I've read historical stuff about the mines up Miners Run, and in various other places in the region, but never about mines in the far headwaters of Rock Run.

Any info on that you have would be appreciated. If we can find out about a source of mine drainage coming in up there, I think we could get DEP to fix that situation. They are doing a lot of mine drainage remediation elsewhere.

I drove the road that crosses the headwaters way, way up and I didn't see signs of old mining there. But maybe in between, in that real remote country, there might be mine drainage coming in.

You're younger than me and probably have the legs to just walk that whole thing, and check it out. If you can do the Loyalsock Trail in one weekend, you could do it!

 

[Gone4Day]

troutbert wrote:
... do you have any more information about "mines at the source."

Troutbert, you should try a google search. Buried in this Pa Bulletin is this little nugget:

   59060101 and NPDES Permit No. PA0256315. Phoenix Resources, Inc. (782 Antrim Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901). Commencement, operation and restoration of a bituminous surface mine, with proposed post-mining land use which will be a sanitary landfill, in Duncan Township, Tioga County, affecting 76.5 acres. Receiving streams: Rock Run to Babb Creek, classified for the following use: CWF. There are no potable water supply intakes within 10 miles downstream. Application received: February 13, 2006. Permit issued: September 29, 2006.

Not sure its the same Rock run, but it doesn't sound good for any CWF to me.

 

[troutbert]

Different stream.

This is Rock Run, tributary to Lycoming Creek, at Ralston.

 

[MKern]

troutbert,

I am going by heresay, which I know can be extremely inaccurate, but it's from both of my soon to be wife's grandfathers.

I know if you travel up the road at the top, is switches to yellow dog road and a few other names and ends in a small town which name elludes me right now. I know of this town because I heard of a cold water pond, which is a source to rock run (I believe the noon branch). I have never found the pond, but have located it on several maps, and have yet to make a second trip up that way. If I remember correctly, the nearby towns to the pond had small mining operations, or were heavy in small machining mills.

I believe that hawk run is void of mines, but upper rock run and the noon branch have pockets of that orangish mud in places.

I personally fell in love with that area years ago, and used to a ton on exploring (very little fishing however). But in all my hours up there, I have seen only a handful of fish up that far. I'm sure way up the stream in similar to hawk run, but I could be wrong because I know of 3 tribs. that look massive at their mouths, but 200 yards upstream they are 2 feet across. I also feel that my time spent walking around up there was semi pointless from a fishing stand point, but is probably worth a light backing packing trip for a few days, if not for the fishing, at least for the scenery. I find it more rewarding up there, than at all the marked waterfalls and pull-offs. However, it still lingers in my mind that hundreds of people journey as far if not further than I do every year ---- I like to think I'm the only person for decades to see some of those places. Still a special place, none the less.

 

[troutbert]

You had me looking at my maps. I couldn't find Noon Branch. I've gone pretty far up Hawk Run and haven't seen any evidence of mine drainage. It looks clean to me.

"Pockets of that orangish mud" don't always indicated mine drainage. The orange is iron oxide (rust) and you can often see that where groundwater is coming to the surface. The contact with the air oxidizes iron dissolved in the groundwater so the iron precipitates out.

I'll just have get well rested and then do the hike up through there sometime. Looks like nearly 4 miles following Rock Run from the Yellow Dog Road up to the road up near Ellenton.

Your right about exploring remote country. There's nothing like it. Do that while you're young and able.

It could do that hike, up and back. But I'd be hurting for several days afterward.

If anyone has anything magical for "muscle recovery" after hiking 8 miles along rugged streams, I'm all ears.

 

[nittspike]

Troutbert..I tore my ACL last spring and the best thing to do prior to any hike is stretch about 15 minutes prior and drink 1 bottle of water before you start. With feet together bend at the waist slowly and attempt to touch your toes at least and hold for 10 seconds. Attempt this 5 times and take one 30 second break between each attempt. Do not try and rock to touch your toes..nice steady pressure of reaching and the weight of your arms, upper torso will do the work for you. You will see that on each attempt you will get a good bit closer if not have the ability to touch your palms to the ground. This strecthes your lower back, thighs, and glutes. Also do calf raises..place both hands on the roof of your car and then raise one leg behind and on the other foot stand on your toes for 10 seconds..do the same for each leg agina 5 times each. When finished with the hike repeat the touch your toes @ 3-4 times. You will be amazed at how just doing this will allow you to move around and recover a lot quicker. Doing the stretch after squeezes the lactic acid buildup in the thigh and glutes which is what causes your stiffness.

I do this everytime I go fishing and have had no issues with feeling sore especially on my repaired knee.

Then later that evening elevate your legs; lie on couch and rest ankles on arm rest and sip your scotch!

John

 

[troutbert]

NittSpike,

Those sound good, I'll try them. I do the forward bends. Palms to floor, that'll be the day. I can get my fingers to the floor though. And I couldn't do that even in high school. So, yes you can make progress in flexibility, if you keep at it over a period of time.

The calf raises is a new one for me. I can feel that one. Good exercise.

I'll try the old Scottish remedy too... 🙂