The Lost Children of the Alleghenies Monument on the Lost Turkey Trail

 One of the more enjoyably creepy (and yes, also sad) hikes I've been on is the hike to the Lost Children of the Alleghenies Memorial.  Lily and I had returned from the town of Bedford to find the weather at Blue Knob still cool and sunny.  I noticed on the map that you can hike to the monument by following part of the Lost Turkey Trail, a 26 mile back pack trail that extends beyond the park.  We could access the trail easily from our campsite using connector trails that were offshoots of the Chappelle Field Trail, although there is a parking lot on the road for visitors to the monument who want to reach the monument by car.

 Here's the story in a nutshell: Lost children in the mountains in 1856. Strange and prophetic dreams. Discovery of dead boys. And then hikers like myself wondering if Dibert was in on it--a pedophile perhaps. This is an unfair accusation but probably a result of living in 2012 when every other head line is about pedophile abduction or some other strange perversion.

Lily's shadow by the shrine.

The hike goes downhill from the campground--and then follows the road for awhile. There's not much traffic, if any at all.  You reach the parking lot on the road and cross a bridge to get to the spot. The woods are quiet except for the water rushing over rocks--and occasional bird calls through the trees.  I hiked about four miles, I think--the going back up the hill to the camp site is a steep, never ending incline.I stopped to catch my breath quite a few times.