Andy Close
The Allegheny National Forest portion of the North Country Trail provides the perfect spot for those who want a leisurely walk, or for those looking for an intense trek through the forest.
From the southern boundary of the Allegheny National Forest (north of Cook Forest State Park) to the New York state line, this section of the trail that goes through Warren County is about 97 percent National Park certified and includes plenty of wildlife, scenic overlooks and camping options.
It also plays host to the Allegheny 100 (A-100) Challenge, an event that challenges hikers to travel 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles along the North Country Trail through the Allegheny National Forest each June, beginning at 6 p.m. on a Friday and ending at 8 p.m. that Sunday.
Eisenhower High School football coach Jim Penley is one of a handful of hikers who completed the 100-mile challenge this year. He completed the 100 miles for the first time in 2019 and did so again this time around.
For Penley, it’s an escape from his day-to-day duties and one that he enjoys thoroughly.
“What’s nice is I can talk about hiking more than football,” Penley said. “For me, I need a release. That’s kind of the fun thing is I’m not coach Penley out there. I’m just another dude and I don’t talk much about football out there. My hiking family, we don’t ever talk about football.”
One of the great things about hiking is it can be done both recreationally and competitively. Penley started getting seriously into hiking about 10 years ago and it’s something that fueled his competitive juices.
“I started getting into hiking probably back about 10 years ago, like serious hiking,” he said. “While I was doing that Pennsylvania section of the North Country Trail from Willow Bay to just North of Pittsburgh, I saw a flyer for the A-100 and thought to myself that would be kind of cool. The following year was the first time I did it.”
And it has become a family affair as well for the Penley’s. Jim and his wife Debbie’s daughter Amber graduated from Eisenhower in June, with that Friday night marking the start of the A100. This was also the first year that their son Caleb did the 50 miles.
“He did the last 50 with me this year,” Penley explained. “Because of graduation, I started about three hours late. It’s really the mental part of it, being able to push yourself. The first five years I did it, there’s a lot of reasons I couldn’t finish the 100. The first year I was able to do it was an amazing feeling. I felt like this year I wasn’t fully ready for it, but I finished three hours faster than I did the first time. It’s just about getting over that mental hump.”
And it was also nice to share the experience with Caleb.
“This was Caleb’s first 50 this year, and he did a phenomenal job with it,” Penley said. “Like I said, it’s enjoyable. We’ve done a lot of hiking together, me and him. He’s really gung ho for his chance at the 100. It’s lots of fun to have that bonding experience as a father and son. The mental toughness it takes to do it, I already know he’s capable of that. He’s a tough kid with a steely-eyed focus.”
Like most hikers, Penley also said it’s a chance for him to get a lot of thinking done, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
“One of the biggest reasons I do it is it’s really nice to get out in the wilderness,” he said. “As a competitor, it’s grueling and it definitely tries your soul a little bit.”
“You get a lot of thinking done. You have to put the miles in to train to do it anyways. You have to put in 12, 15 and 30 mile walks. You kind of get yourself mentally ready. For me, I listen to a lot of podcasts. It’s definitely one of those things, where mentally if you’re in the right space and you come in with a game plan it makes it a lot easier. The biggest challenge is mentally being able to maintain your mental composure when your body is broken down.”
Whether you are looking to scratch that competitive itch like the Penleys and others do with the A100, or simply get on the trail and enjoy a nice morning or afternoon, the Allegheny National Forest section of the North Country Trail is the place for you.
Editor’s Note: The North Country National Scenic Trail is the longest in the National Trails System, stretching 4,700 miles across eight states from North Dakota to Vermont, traversing forests and farmlands, remote terrain and local communities.
