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The Mountain Run is one of hundreds of small streams that wind their way through the pine and hardwood forests of north central PA, a beautiful area known as the "Pennsylvania Wilds". It is fed by numerous mountain springs that originate from such colorful places as Boone Mountain, Butternut Hollow, Pete Buck, Fawn Skin Trail and The Old Farm. My grandfather liked to tell the story of he and his brother heading out to go fishing, when great-grandma asked "Where do you boys think you're going"? they replied "We're goin' down to Mountain Run to catch supper". She answered "If you boys catch em I'll clean em". Well according to grandpa they came back that afternoon with a washtub overflowing with brook trout, and great-grandma was not one bit happy about it. I can only hope that someday my grandchildren will be interested in stories of hot summer days swimming in its icy water, the thrill of catching your first native brook trout or carefully crossing a moss-covered log in order to hunt turkeys up Butternut Hollow. Certainly, a remote, cool and clear mountain stream can provide a young lad with countless hours of enjoyment, solitude and yes, even friendship while it teaches him to love, respect and cherish the land. Although the water is still cool and clear, the native brook trout are still relatively plentiful and in the spring you can still hear turkeys gobbling on the hillsides, sadly, this icon of what nature and God's good earth was and should be is a mere shadow of its former self. Logging and its related pillaging of the land along with the construction of roads and homes have taken its toll on this dear old family friend. |
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It's our desire at themountainrun.com to keep the spirit of the Mountain Run alive. It's true, we can't turn back the clock, we can't undo what's already done but we do have a choice in how we live our lives. Why can't we live a quieter, simpler more peaceful existence? Why can't we travel the road not taken, stop to smell the roses or take time to sit by the fire on a cold winter day and watch it snow? Why must we abandon our time honored values and traditions in the name of progress? Why must it be out with the old in with the new? Something that is old does not mean that it is of little value but rather great value, it has stood the test of time it has proven its worth. And so it is with values, morals and traditions, the older the better. The great prophet Jeremiah, inspired of God wrote "Stand ye in the ways and see,and ask for the old paths, wherein is the good way,and walk therein". Call us old fashioned or just plain old but we happen to like the old paths, we enjoy that road not often taken, and we love the Mountain Run.
Even today, as you walk its banks well worn with time, if close your eyes and listen very hard you can still hear the laughter of children as a rock skips across its surface. You can see a young boy and his father wadding the rapids while holding hands and you can feel the warmth of a hundred summer's breezes blowing gently across your face; this is the spirit of The Mountain Run. It is the essence of life and love, of joy and laughter, of family and friends a peaceful place, a happy place and perhaps best of all a spiritual place. |