Hike #111
Another time that's crazy for me to look back on. My first time taking part in an Appalachian Mountain Club event, things were changing, though I was'nt sure if the inclusion of this group would be good or bad based on my first experiance. It of course turned out to be mostly good in the long run.
Again, rather than post my own hike, Rich wanted to post this hike we had scouted earlier, so I agreed that I would do this one to help him find the old blazes. It was happening that all too often no one from my quickly diminishing core group showed up and so it was only Rich's AMC group. I knew after this point that I needed to get in on some of this.
The group at our beginning point.
Hike 111
10/12/3
In the time following his son, Eric’s 18th birthday, Rich Pace joined the Appalachian
Mountain Club so he could continue leading the hikes and other events we’d all enjoyed
so much in Boy Scouts. He was now an AMC trip leader, and posting many of his own
trips. Rich asked me to join his next trip over the Blue Mountain in PA using a lost scenic
bypass trail between Lehigh Gap and Lehigh Furnace Gap; I had recently hiked it with him
and the two of us were able to find old blazes on rocks along the scenic bypass. This
would be my first time joining in on an AMC event.
Along the AT near Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob on the AT
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
We left several cars, including my camaro, in Lehigh Gap, and we car shuttled to Bake
Oven Knob, a large rocky outcropping with fantastic views from the Blue Mountain in
PA. I felt slightly alienated in this group of more conventional hikers; I showed up wearing
flowery shorts, and a weird Grateful Dead style shirt (though I am not a Dead fan).
Immediately into the conversations, one woman would not believe that I had never done
any drugs, including marijuana. I felt somewhat insulted at first, but thinking about it as
we walked, my clothing and long hair now halfway down my back would obviously lead
to stereotyping. Joining Rich’s hike were Mark, Bob Savron, Paul Zad, Ron Phelps,,, and .
We began walking the AT northbound across Bake Oven Knob from Bake Oven Knob
road, passing incredible views of farmlands, with colorful leaves all around. I did some
crazy climbing around on the rocks. In fact, every time we stopped I would climb about
on rocks until someone brought up the concept of Rattlesnakes. I soon heard a rattling
coming from a rock below me and I decided to keep more to the trail!
Me climbing Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
AT in PA
Off trail from the AT, Blue Mountain PA
Just after crossing a gravel cross-mountain road in Lehigh Furnace Gap, and ascending
through some trees, we made our way off the AT to the unmaintained scenic bypass trail,
and onto the top of a huge rock with a great view. Everyone had lunch here (except me
because I rarely eat on a day hike). I recall there being many Yellow Jackets throughout
the area, and I was worried a bit because Mark was allergic to them.
Off trail from the AT, Blue Mountain PA
Off trail view, Blue Mountain PA
Off trail view, Blue Mountain PA
Blue Mountain PA
Blue Mountain PA
Blue Mountain PA
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail outcropping
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
South Trail
North Trail
North Trail view
Along North Trail
North Trail view
North Trail
North Trail
North Trail view toward Lehighton and beyond
North Trail
Zinc company in Palmerton PA from North Trail
When we finally headed on, Rich and I took up the lead looking for blazes, which since
our last visit had been repainted to some extent. The trail was incredible, but it was slow
going over the often loose rocks. There were not many views along the trail, but the open
and rocky appearance made for an incredible walk. We came back out to the AT,
branching off yet again near a tower onto North Trail, which took us along the north side
of the Blue Mountain with continueous views from a denuded part of the mountain. The
NJ Zinc Company did smelting in nearby Palmerton, which was in plain view, which killed
off all of the vegetation. On this section of trail I found a giant muffler from some large
vehicle which I carried with me on my back for a bit, proclaiming “I’m not gonna pay a lot
for this muffler!!!”.
"I'm not going to pay a lot for this muffler"
North Trail
North Trail
North Trail
North Trail
Descending on the AT into Lehigh Gap
Lehigh Gap along former LNE railroad bed
Near the end of the North Trail, a side trail branches off and goes down to an
outcropping called the Devil’s Pulpit. I had really wanted to see this, but no one else was
interested in climbing down.
We continued to descend, rejoining the AT, and making our way to the west end of
Lehigh Gap. We crossed a bridge over the Lehigh making our way back to the parking lot
on the east side, but I was not at all tired yet. While everyone else decided to head out, I
walked north through Lehigh Gap on the old LNE main line right of way, passing the site
of a huge trestle that once crossed Lehigh Gap, and beyond skirting the northeast side of
the gap. I continued on the right of way as vegetation started to re-appear. I continued
walking with an industrial area to my left when the sun started going behind the hills and I
turned back. After coming back through the gap, I reached the camaro. The parking lot in
Lehigh Gap is built on the LNE right of way, and I decided to try my luck and head south
through the gap a bit, crossing the highway and taking the right of way into the woods. I
did’nt get far at all before it became totally overgrown and I had to turn back.
This was still a very interesting hike, and my first introduction to the Appalachian
Mountain Club.
Photography by Rich Pace (RP) and Mike Helbing
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