Pennsylvania Turnpike through the Mountains Photo Gallery by edmund j. kowalski at pbase.com

Pennsylvania Turnpike through the Mountains

Last week I drove the Pennsylvania Turnpike from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.
Westbound portion from Blue Mountain to Somerset plunges through the main chain of the middle Appalachian Mountains.
Blue Mountain is a very long and steep ridge mountain that stretches diagonally southwest to northeast, bissecting the State. It appears blue as you approach, and were a major obstacle to early settlers on their way to the new lands of the West. They say that it was more difficult to ascend and descend these Pennsylvania mountains in a Conestoga wagon than it was to cross the Rockies with the more gradual passes of the far Western states.

I shot these with my Pentax *ist d digital SLR.
Please click on thumbnails to see enlarged.
All images are Š2010 E.J.Kowalski.

3443 blue mountain 1.JPG	3448 blue mountain 2.JPG	3451 blue mountain tunnel.JPG
3452 exiting blue mountain tunnel.JPG	3454 kittatinny mountain tunnel.JPG	3455 farm.JPG
3456 pigeons.JPG	3458 mouintain valley farm.JPG	3463 tuscarora mountain tunnel.JPG
3468 mountains.JPG	3470 mountain.JPG	3476 sideling hill.JPG
3483 white paint.JPG	3486 old style house.JPG	3493 mail pouch barn.JPG
3501 allegheny mountain tunnel.JPG	3506 clean energy 1 somerset.JPG	3513 clean energy 2 somerset.JPG

comment |

Ron Zembruski		05-Aug-2010 17:06
When I live in New Jersey 1970 to 1990 I traveled the PA turnpike to visit family in Natrona area. I recognize many of these scenes. There are 4 tunnels to drive through the mountains. The brick house with the white porch and the Mail Pouch barn look very familiar. I have pleasant memories driving nearly the entire length of the turnpike.

dave hamer		27-Jul-2010 03:54
Beautiful mountain scenes and I love the tunnels. The World of Pigeons must be an interesting place. Is Mail Pouch still available? Thanks for the tour Ed.

Don Turowski		26-Jul-2010 21:31
Ah yes, the oldest turnpike in the nation...some beautiful sights on the drive that I usually take from Exit 5 (Harmarville) to the Valley Forge exit near Philadelphia on my trips (too frequent) to Atlantic City, NJ....all the pictures are reminders of some of the sights on the "pike".

Phil S.		26-Jul-2010 20:51
Pretty country, reminds me of the Blue Ridge Parkway in the southeast. Thoughtful of them to put the mountain names on the tunnels.

click on thumbnails for full image

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