The Butler Chapter of the North Country Trail, along with Aaron Cowan and the History Department of Slippery Rock University, will be hosting the annual Cherry Pie Hike on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Old Stone House.

The Old Stone House, an 1822 wayside inn,  is at the intersection of Route 8 and Route 173. It is also at the intersection of Route 8 and Route 528. (oldstonehousepa.org)

There will be three sessions, starting at 9:00, 11:00, and 1:00. Cherry Pie and coffee, tea and water will be served, compliments of the North Country Brewing Co  (www.northcountrybrewing.com) in Slippery Rock.

At around 20 minutes after the start time of each session, Dr. Cohen and his assistants from the History Department will give a talk about the history of the area.

After each talk, there will be an opportunity to take a hike along the North Country Trail, which is is approximately in the area of the old Venango Trail which George Washington and Christopher Gist would have travelled in 1753. After each talk there will be choice of 2 hikes, a long hike of about 4 miles and a short hike around ½ mile.

The short hike will leave from the Old Stone House passing the Foltz one-room school house and to the acid mine water treatment program run by Jennings Environmental Education Center, and then returning back to the Old Stone House. Hike will be lead by a ranger from the Jennings Center and should take about an hour.

The long hikers will first drive their cars over to the Jennings Center across Route 8, and meet their hike leader at the parking lot on the prairie (right / north) side to begin a 2 hour hike along the North Country Trail.  Moving your vehicles across the road will free up the limited parking spaces at the Old Stone House for the next group.

After the hike, many people like to head up to the North Country Brewing Co. at 141 S. Main Street,  Slippery Rock PA for some fine food and drink.(Great beer and root beer!!!)

Please contact John Stehle (stehles@gmail.com - ph 724-256-0674) to reserve a spot at the Old Stone House. Please indicate which program you would like to attend.