Before I hung up the mountain bike for the next two weeks I figured I'd get out to do some exploring. This fall, Clearwater Conservancy completed their land purchase and transfer of over 400 acres along Tussey ridge to Rothrock State Forest. One of the hopes of this purchase and transfer was to remove some of the pressure from Shingletown Gap, since it isn't such a hot idea to have so many people and their pets tramping through the town's water source. Whats a little giardia among friends?
To get to Musser Gap, you enter off of 45 between Branch Rd and 26. There is a small gravel road that cuts up the hill with a small Rothrock sign on it. Its pretty easy to miss, but if you are riding from town I think its actually closer then Shingletown to get to dirt. From the parking lot, you head up a gated old road and continue climbing for about a mile. Its pretty much all ride-able, unless your like me and have already gone into winter weight mode. About two-thirds of the way up, there is an old containment pond from when PSU owned this land, and their is actually a pretty cool looking trail that heads off to I don't know where, I'll have to explore that another day. The road itself though splits and I kept to the left heading for the power lines that run below Tussey ridge. I then followed the power lines out to the overlook, which would have been pretty impressive, if it wasn't for the, well, power lines. 
Thats Nittany in the distance there, it was kind of fun scrambling on the rocks in Sidis to try and get a better view. Immediately to the right of the overlook is a trail heading out the ridge. This ridge top trail is pretty typical of all the other ridges around here, except there is a ton of moss on the rocks. Makes for a neat visual with an iridescent green carpet rolling out among the leaves in front of you. 
If you keep following the ridge out, eventually there is a white and blue blazed trail that drops off to the right. If you take this connection, it will lead into the top of Charcoal Flats, without the death march hike-a-bike out of Shingletown. This was the option I took, heading out Charcoal Flats all the way to Laurel Run and then heading down the Gap to take the road back to my car. Speaking of cars, there were 3 at the Musser Gap parking area, but at least 15 at Shingletown. So now you know the secret to beat the crowds.
