Atop a rock outcrop ridge overlooking the barren strip mined wastelands significant of the Pennsylvania coal belt region, a faded purple 1970s era, MGB automobile emerged across the horizon, appearing to float above the tree topped hills. A head turner for sure, for upon second glance a red Ford pickup truck could also be spotted, upon which the MGB was ever so precariously balanced. A confusing sight to comprehend, especially while cruising at highway speeds down Interstate 81 while trying to maintain lanes. Soon the highway gently curved in toward the natural topography of the surrounding terrain and with it the hovering automobiles became obscured, lost behind a hill of trees. This all happened so quickly, I at first wondered if the bizarre sight was just a coal country mirage, perhaps my eyes were merely playing tricks upon me, fatigued by the endless expanse of repetitive woodland scenes.
With a desire to investigate further, I took the next exit and soon found myself walking along a railroad bed roughly paralleling the interstate highway I had just exited from. The strong summer sun beat relentlessly across my face, the dry heat amplified further by the coal and ashen laden soil which resonated the suns rays right back at me like a convection oven, evaporating my sweat before it could even form. The seldom used tracks cut along the base of a strip mined mountain, providing little shade. The further I walked the steeper the mountain became and the more I hated myself for leaving my water bottle back in the car. Unprepared to bushwhack up a sheer cliff face where I suspected up top the vehicles to exist, I decided to backtrack toward where I saw a power line cut meander up the mountain face. It became evident that this electric pole right-of-way was also actively used by ATVs and dirt bikes for a well worn trail zig-zagged up toward to my presumed destination.
The trail turned out to be quite treacherous as the loose dry sandy soil and gravel ripped up by barrages of ATVs, resulted in many steps forward actually being three steps backward. Despite the rapid regression at times, progress was made and the terrain began to level out. Atop the summit, a second narrower trail lead off in into the shaded woods. If it weren't for the spray painted sign reading "car totem pole --->" I'd probably have been lost and summited the mountain for no reason. This trail continued for a solid half mile until right before my very eyes the floating MGB appeared yet again. This time however I could be sure it was no mirage. As I walked closer I could see an iron beam had been driven through the center of at least half a dozen vintage automobiles all stacked upon another. Four guy wires anchored the vehicles to the ground below, preventing the vehicles from spinning around the pole like larger then life Christmas decorations. A car shish kebab I thought to myself, until I stopped and realized "no, it's a shish carbab", an automotive effigy that can truly only exist in Pennsylvania, land of abandoned automobiles. And with such a realization, I knew I had a future story and a photo title, but still no water and a steep climb back down a mountain ahead of me.
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