Hike #199; Stokes State Forest Loop

 Hike #199

12/4/5

Stokes State Forest with Fred Hafale and Dave Finton

Along the AT in Stokes

near Normanook (Culver) fire tower

More of me on the USGS Marker on Sunrise Mt.

Culver's Gap AT parking lot

AT near Normanook Tower, Stokes

AT near Normanook Tower

AT near Normanook Tower

Along the AT near Normanook Tower

AT in Stokes

AT view (hah) in Stokes near Normanook Tower

Normanook Tower, Stokes

Along the AT heading north from Culver's Gap

AT heading north from Culver's Gap

AT heading north from Culver's Gap

AT heading north from Culver's Gap

AT view north of Culver's Gap

Stokes

Silver Mine Trail, Stokes

Silver Mine Trail, Stokes

Silver Mine Trail, Stokes

Kittle Field in Stokes SF

Shelter in Kittle Field, Stokes SF

Silver Mine Trail, Stokes SF

Stony Brook Falls, Stokes SF

Stony Lake in Stokes

Rather than post my own hike on this occasion I figured Fred was already doing a Stokes State Forest Hike anyway, almost the same from one of the ones I normally did, so I'd just post it and we'd do it together and each fill out trip reports from our respective AMC chapters (Del Val for me, NY/NJ for him) but unfortunitely there were only three of us! The roads were atrocious heading up there with my camaro, I don't know how I made it up, let alone into the parking lot.

We walked from the Culver's Gap lot up the AT northbound past Normanook Tower.

When we turned off the AT Dave continued on because he was trying to finish the AT in NJ and wanted to get to Deckertown Turnpike. I understand he made it, and ended up walking Sunrise Mountain Road back in the snow (When the hike was over Fred and I wanted to go try to pick him up but the road was blocked!)!

I don't remember which trail we went down, but it was probably Cartwright because we did get beyond Sunrise Mountain.

We ended up walking some of Silvermine Trail somewhere along the way and made a wrong turn, ending up at the Silver Mine itself. The snow sort of threw us off and the blazes on the trees were more difficult to see. We walked the unmarked trail along the Stony Brook to Stony Lake and then headed up to Sunrise Mountain Road though I don't remember which trail we took. Probably not Fire Tower Trail.

We got back to our cars with no problem.

Stony Lake in Stokes