Yes, we are a fly fishing club but the waters are so low in the runs and on Pine, that hiking is a good way to spend some time in the woods and get or keep in shape to do all the hiking while fishing the runs. So, take a hike! Literally.
Harry wanted to hike over east of the Algerine and who am I to deny such a request? So we parked on top and headed east in the vicinity of the Vanimes Trail (I believe we actually hiked parallel to it going east).
We couldn’t park back in very far as an old tree had fallen, apparently recently, across the access road that leads to where we wanted to park.
This area wasn’t choked thick of conifers like the Algerine side was.
Jack leads the way!
This was NOT like heading into the Algerine! At first there was a well traveled road (two track trail) and we walked casually for quite some time till we thought we needed to bear a little more southerly. Harry thought he remembered that there was a sign someplace which would identify the trail we wanted to come back on.
The trail we were looking for, in one direction, would go to Mine Hole on Cedar Run – the other direction would eventually lead us to the top of Tumbling Run. We hiked till we saw the dried up tributary (Hamilton Hollow trib) and on the other side of it was red blazes clearly marking the trail. We took a right onto this trail as it would to turn us back to the west eventually – back to Gamble Run Road. I’m sure we were on the Vaniames trail for some part of the time and quite possibly on the Tumbling Run trail which led us back to Gamble Run Road. There was one place where we had a choice – to turn hard to the south or keep going west – we kept going west. This might have taken us off the Tumbling Run trail and headed more directly back to Gamble Run Road.
I have gotten confirmation that we actually hiked over to the headwaters of Hamilton Hollow. From there, we hopped across the tributary (with no water in it mentioned above) to the red blazed trail that turned us back toward the west.
Along the Red Blaze trail 
Princess Pine
It started out somewhat cloudy and probably in the upper 60s. But by the time we were on the red blazed trail, sun was breaking through and it was simply a great day for a hike.
The ‘Other’ side of the Algerine!
The maples are turning red mostly – I believe because it was such a dry summer. Foliage colors were such a mixture of crimson, gold and green. It was just beautiful when bathed in sunlight.
We came across an unusual rock feature in the ground. It appeared to be more like a pit blind than anything else I’ve seen. However, Harry thought it might have been an old homestead.
The picture doesn’t do it justice. The ‘pit’ was about fifteen or twenty feet across and a little shorter in width. It might have been five to seven feet deep. Most of the rocks were piled to the left as seen in the picture. There were more rocks piled around the other sides but not in the number to the left of our observation point. If this was a homestead, it was on the small scale.
We walked just a little further and saw a shallow well!
Harry said that this was the origins of Tumbling Run which empties into Cedar an creates a great pool. As you see, it was completely dry since this summer has been in drought condition. I know there’s water still trickling from Tumbling Run into Cedar, but it certainly is much less than normal. After such a year as this, I hope we know what normal is.
Jack joined us today. He’s getting up there in age and limps a little near the end of the hikes. I figure if Jack can make it, I’ll make it.
Was a great day to be out in the woods.
Reporting from Slate Run… till we see each other again… UB
Slate Run Sportsmen 
I, for one, am thankful that the SRS has received a comment and suggestion such as that posed by Bill Brant (see above). Since the Algerine is part of the Slate Run and Cedar Run watersheds, I think it’s good for SRS members to continue monitoring the area to ensure its well-being, but environmental projects there, whatever their merits, would be beyond our mission capabilities. That’s not to say we couldn’t be supportive of a state project in the area. Personally, I’d favor any man-made modification only as a last resort. A wild self-sustaining ecosystem is ideal.
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I visited Algerine on a pleasant fall day in early October this year. What a interesting place. Maybe SRS could create a new wetland or raingarden for a club project. Nothing as complex as the bog at Algerine, just a shallow marsh to hold some water and allow it to infiltrate into the ground instead of running off.
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Hello Mr. Brant and thank you for leaving a comment! The Algerine is a special place isn’t it? I’ve hiked only a couple of small parts of it but can appreciate it’s beauty for sure. The club’s mission is pretty focused on keeping Slate Run as a Fly Fishing Only project – but I can certainly take the idea to them and see what goes. I’ve read of a few projects that were conducted in the past that, over time, reverted back to what ‘Mother Nature’ had intended from the start in the area. Not to say something couldn’t be done but, I know that you can’t fight with nature as it’ll win 9 times outta 10.
Happy Thanksgiving Mr. Brant! – UB
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A great day for hiking, even though the streams remain dangerously low. The colors of the foliage are terrific, thanks largely to the drought. Thanks for sharing a report from that interesting country east of the Algerine. I’ve got to get in there someday.
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Thanks so much Rivertop Rambles for the comment. We’re anticipating some rain during the stay here (perhaps this evening and more certainly tomorrow) but I don’t want to say that too loud to jinx it. It wasn’t a really long hike and the terrain was pretty flat – but I rather liked it! It’s supposed to cool right down here in the next day or so. I want to get out and do a little hike in the cooler temperatures too. Thanks again RTR! UB
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