The Alleghenies are defined as much by water as by ridges.
From every rocky summit, springs emerge, then converge into rivulets, runs, streams and rivers. Every height overlooks hollows and valleys that have been carved over eons by moving water.
Our ridges couldn’t be more different from the Rockies or Sierras. The Alleghenies’ grandeur doesn’t come from their elevation or rocky reliefbut from their expansiveness and cool-green lushness.
Historically, the ridges were barriers. People followed the rivers and streams, whichwere, quite literally, water-ways: Native Americans and settlers used them as paths through the tangled maze of imposing hills, commercemoved materials and goods along them, communities sprang up at strategic points beside them.
Industry used and abused the Alleghenies’ water resources. As the water deteriorated in quality, generations of residents turned their backs and defined the region by its blue-collar productivity.
But a changing economy and heightened awareness of its importance is restoring our water – both in quality and in ourconsciousness. If the Alleghenies’ stature as an industrial center has diminished, its profile as a place to play and enjoy the outdoors has grown.
These days we enjoy our water. We boat, fish, picnic and camp along an increasing number of improving lakes and streams. Hikersare soothed by views of tumbling runs; bicyclists and motoristssavor lake vistas while traveling.
And we celebrate our water in a surprising number of ways. During the spring and fall there are whitewater boating festivals, for example, near Johnstown and Ohiopyle – and a mountain-bike festival on the hills above Raystown Lake.
Look at the region’s calendars of events now, and you’ll find a number of water-related events here in the heart of summer as well.
In the Maryland community of Friendsville, July 21-22, Friendsville Days combines the joys of a community festival with aboat race, which will be held on the upper Youghiogheny River on July 22. For information on the Friendsville Days, go to VisitFriendsville.org; for the race information, visit Wilderness-Voyageurs.com.
One of the region’s more unusual events, “Bridgefest,” takes place on July 29 in Johnstown, much of it on the bridge that crosses the Conemaugh River between the neighborhoods of Minersville and Cambria City. In addition to a 5K “Color Run” and a dance party at the St. Mary’s Pavilion, there will be an attempt to set a Guinness World Record for the “Largest Crowd Dancing Across an Historic Bridge.” JohnstownConcertBallet.org.
The following weekend, one of the region’s larger music festivals takes place along the banks of the Conemaugh in Johnstown: the AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival. While music is the focus, the festival’s setting along the river adds much to its appeal. FloodCityMusic.com.
August 12, Lakefest offers fishing, boating and birding opportunities at Somerset Lake. Of course there will be music and food as well. Lakefest raises money to help with dam reconstruction and park development around the lake. SomersetConservancy.org.
That same day, August 12, Riverfest will celebrate the arts in Fort Bedford Park. Culinary, theatre, visual, musical and performance arts will be framed beautifully there along the banks of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River. DowntownBedford.com.
Whipple Dam State Park combines music and water in a pleasant way with its “Music on the Beach” concert series. Remaining concerts are scheduled for this Saturday and August 19. Raystown.org/events.
A major water-based event takes place on the region’s namesake waterway, over the weekend of August 19-21. Riverbration features powerboat races on the Allegheny River and is centered in Kittanning’s Riverfront Park. Riverbration.com.
Notice the impressive breadth to Alleghenies culture – from motorsports to music, arts to angling, dance to park development and community celebration.Yet our rivers, streams and lakes help to delineate and showcase our culture just as they do our ridges.
We may have lost some industry, but we’ve rediscovered a precious resource –and our water defines us beautifully.