Pandemic, water conditions prompt organizers to cancel 2020 Loyalhanna Sojourn
Organizers canceled this year’s Loyalhanna Sojourn, an annual paddling trip down the creek from Latrobe to New Alexandria. It was scheduled for Saturday.
The event had been postponed because of the covid-19 pandemic. The cancellation was prompted in part by challenges related to the pandemic — including plans for shuttling participants by bus, according to a Facebook message posted by two of the event’s organizing partners, the Loyalhanna Watershed Association and Latrobe-GLSD Parks and Recreation.
The groups also cited a lack of “safety boaters” to accompany participants, exceptionally low water levels and downed trees that fell into the stream.
As a result, the “traditional three-hour float from Cardinal Park in Latrobe to Grey Wing Park in New Alexandria is currently taking eight hours from start to finish.”
“The best and safest thing was just to cancel it,” said Craig Shevchik, Latrobe’s parks and recreation director. He noted the pandemic placed restrictions on the recreation staff, some of whom were furloughed, and on the staff at Keystone State Park, another sojourn partner.
Credits will be issued to the more than 180 people who signed up for the event. For a refund, contact Shevchik at craig@latroberecreation.org.
Jeff Himler is a TribLive reporter covering Greater Latrobe, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant Area and Derry Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on transportation issues. A journalist for more than three decades, he enjoys delving into local history. He can be reached at jhimler@triblive.com.
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