Chester County Highpoint Trip Report

three areas on Welsh Mtn - including spot elevation 1,071 (1,060+ ft)

Date: October 11, 2004
Author: Bob Schwab

Quarrying activity has mined-away the 1080+ contour that previous visitors like Mike Schwartz and Fred Lobdell found. Today, all that remains are three 1060+ contours, two of which have been disturbed and virtually mined away. Fortunately, the eastern contour, which includes the spot elevation at 1071 feet appears to be safe from quarrying at the moment. It is not efficient, nor is it wise, to hike through the Rod and Gun Club land and bushwhack around the quarry. The operators of Valley Forge Stone (quarry) will grant permission to enter if they're not actively working in the northern end of the pit. You absolutely SHOULD get their permission to avoid getting "blown up" or showered with debris if they don't know you're there (two of the 1060+ contour remnants are perched on the rim of the quarry, and the blasting whistle is only 30 seconds in length!).

>From the intersection of Routes 23 and 10 just east of Morgantown, drive south on Route 10 for about 2.5 miles to an intersection at the top of the ridge. Turn sharply left onto Welsh Road and drive east for about 0.2 mile to a good dirt road on your left. Follow this road about 0.4 mile to the gate and entrance to Valley Forge Stone. Stop at the office and get permission to visit the eastern pit which is owned by Valley Forge Stone but leased to Welsh Mountain Building Stone. If permission is granted, take the road that bears right at the quarry gate and drive northeast for about 0.75 mile to the quarry entrance on your left. I stopped at the first building and let the folks there know that I had permission from Valley Forge Stone to go up into the woods beyond their quarry in search of the county highpoint. On that day, I was told I could drive into the pit and park near the scaling station. As you enter this quarry, notice a well-maintained service road that enters on the left. This road connects this small quarry to the large pit. Park near the scaling station and follow the jeep path that ascends the hill to the eastern contour and the 1071-foot spot elevation site (shown on topo map). Once you crest the contour (area 1), note the junction with a path that heads north but continue east on the flat path. In a short distance you'll encounter some white gravel piles in an open area. Follow the bulldozer path south into the woods and wander back to the edge of the hill near spot elevation 1071 and some low rocks (No view, but there are postings along the edge of the hill here).

Return to the junction at the top of the quarry and take the path that heads north. In just a few hundred feet the road starts to drop down the hill rapidly. Descend down the path a bit until it bends to the right (north). Bushwhack to your left (west) and find a "trail" of sorts that runs up toward and along the ridge. After a short distance you'll find a jeep path coming up from the main quarry. Follow the path upward a short distance to where you can clearly see into the main pit. Note the bank along the rim path on your right (north) and notice the high ground out at the point just to the right. Climb the bank and find remnants of area 2, a bit of natural ground just north of the bank as it slopes down. This is the eastern tip of what is illustrated on the topo map as the second or middle 1060+ contour. Most of this contour was disturbed in order to make the rim path, but from here you can see higher ground exists to the west (checked with hand- level sightings both ways). Follow the rim path to its end at an impressive viewpoint (area 3). Once again, this is just a remnant of the western 1060+ contour shown on the topo map. Most of the western contour has been mined away. The highest ground is a couple of rubble piles perched at the rim. There is a small brushy bump between the path and the quarry wall to the south that looks the most natural of anything I could find here. Based on current GPS readings along the rim and estimates of the location of the original 1,080+ ft contour, I believe the original contour was south of the current western and middle contour sites, out in what is now the quarry!

After enjoying the view, you can return to your car the way you came or you can simply follow the jeep/rim path down into the main quarry and then take a left at the bottom and follow the service road down to the scaling station in the eastern pit.