Went up to camp last weekend, and took a little drive about 8:00 P.M. Down Shaggers Inn Rd., Right on (Medix) Grade Rd. Shortly after passing the gray camp on the right, going uphill, I noticed a steel gate that was open,but I'd never seen before. It had been a while since I was over that way, and thought maybe I just never noticed it before. Then to see survey stakes along the road, and pink flourescent ribbons everywhere. I thought I remembered someone saying the Orchard Camp had been sold some time ago, and was being sold off in lots. As I continued on up the road, I passed another gate. These gates would effectively close off Grade Road from below Caledonia Pike to where Shaggers Inn Rd. comes onto Grade Rd.
Does anyone on here know what is going on, and is the closing of this section of road a possibility? Sections of Forestry road run thru the Punxy Club grounds, and they aren't closed. How could this happen? This has me concerned. Any answers out there?

Can't give you an answer but in the future there will be more areas closed off.They call them biospheres.

Well, if these "biosphere" areas are allowed to exist and flourish, it's sure gonna start to make things rough on snowmobilers in the winter, now, isn't it? Not exactly making the State Forests "user friendly", are we?
With all the "Gubbner's" big talk about the Pa. Wilds issue,forest road closings are to be tolerated? Sounds like both sides of the mouth are talking differently....................
How are the yuppie hikers, bikers, bird watchers, pseudo-ecologists and the like going to get around? I can't wait for the day that I see some bike rider with theirblue Spandex tights and peanut shell headware wondering how to get from "Point A" to "Point B" because the road has been closed due to a new "biosphere".
Lovely. Simply Lovely.

Open forestry roads to allow access for hunting, close them for "biospheres".

I think there is a more legitimate reason than the "biosphere" rumor.

Biosphere's are something being discussed T.I know it sounds far fetched but it does exist.I haven't seen any new roads open for the purpose of hunting.
I'm not saying this road was closed for a biosphere but with the big push for more "wilds" we're going to see more roads being closed.

There has to be a legitimate reson for closing that road.I'll find out this week.Correct me if I'm wrong but medix grade is the one at the end of Shagger Inn rd right after you cross the bridge heading twoard medix.Did the gate or surrounding area have an signs posted?

I guess I just don't understand the "logic" behind this. Grade road is just about the only way to get from Caledonia Pike to Medix Run now that the bridge on Little Medix Rd. is still out. Seems to me that it would be defeating the purpose for people to enjoy the "Wilds" if you make it hard to do that. I understand that the people who are developing the area want to close it off for privacy, I guess. How is developing a "Camptown" area condusive to fitting into the "Wilds" program? Furthermore, simply because a road runs through a farmer's property somewhere doesn't give that farmer the right to gate the road off, does it? Grade road existed long before the intended development was initiated. Seems to me that someone is overstepping the boundaries here. Forest roads run in and out of private property all through the Moshannon area. Why should this be allowed to continue? I guess I'm disappointed, disheartened and confused about the whole thing.

Doug.. You are mostly correct. Medix Grade Rd. is at the end of Shagger's Inn Rd. coming from the dam. There is no bridge to cross unless you turn left at the end of Shagger's Inn Rd. and take (Medix) Grade Rd. down to Medix Run(the trout stream). This is known as Huntley. To go to the gates, turn right on Grade Rd. at the end of Shagger's Inn Rd, and proceed upgrade. You will hit the first gate shortly after passing the gray camp onthe left. The gates are not closed, and are marked with lots of orange surveyor's tape. The upper gate is about 1/4 mi. on up the road. I saw no signs of any sort with the exception of the "Posted" signs on the trees betwwen the gates. These signs have been there for years. The survey stakes and the gates are the only new things I noticed.
Will be very interested to hear what you find out.

Gray camp is on the Right, not the left side of road.

I just talked with someone from DCNR.That area is private property and has been sold with the intentions of development.The road is gated but it's unlocked and you must close it behind you.It was a state forest decision to gate the road but I'm not sure why.I got the impression that the state wanted to buy the land but it was sold to someone else.I didn't talk with the person who I was looking for but I'll get back to you because Ihave to talk to him in the next couple of days.It has nothing to do with biospheres.Will medix grade come back at hit Caledonia pike near Knob's road?I always get a couple of those roads confused.