Looking back at this one today, it's a realization of how so many things change. It's amazing I even have copies of these journal entries at all considering most of my stuff burned in the house fire.
This was the last hike I drove my beloved Camaro to, as it needed too much work for me to keep it.
Heading up the inferno
4/15/6
Lehigh Gap PA
LNE rail bed in Lehigh Gap
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
On the way up Lehigh Gap
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh River from the ridge in Lehigh Gap
Climbing the inferno of Lehigh Gap
Chris out on the ledge
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
This next trip would take us somewhere I had wanted to explore for many years. It wouldbe a new loop hike incorperating the next sections of the Appalachian Trail and abandonedLehigh and New England Railroad I had not yet completed. This would also be a sad dayas it would be my last trip with my beloved 86 Camaro. Skyler and I rode out together to the parking area in the middle of Lehigh Gap, build onpart of the Lehigh and New England Railroad grade. Also joining me for this one wouldbe David Noble and Margot Reybitz, as well as Dr Jenn Redmond and Chris Metaxas.There would only be one newcomer, {name unknown}. David, Margot, Chris, and DrJenn would all cut out early leaving three of us for the remainder of the hike. When we started, Margot was wearing a dress, which I informed her would probably be abad idea due to the fact that we’d be climbing a ridge, so she changed into shorts. We call the east face of Lehigh Gap “Dante’s Inferno”, as the lack of trees due to pastZinc smelting in Palmerton PA had killed off most of the vegetation on the mountainmaking it brutally hot in the Summer. Though it was only April, it was a scorcher,probably about 70 degrees! While waiting around for everyone to get ready, Chris, Dr.Jenn, and I walked out to where a massieve trestle used to carry the LNE railroad acrossLehigh Gap. Even from the rail grade, there were great views. We ascended throughwoods at first, still with obscured views until we reached the beginning of the exposedsection. I started out wearing layers, but soon gave up two of them. I gave David the pinkand yellow bowling shirt that said “David” on it to David Noble. Tea Biscuit had boughtthe shirt for a dollar or something at a yard sale at Kittatinny Lake on hike #93 in June of2003 during a Stokes hike in NJ. We made our way up the ridge with fantastic views in all directions. The Devil’s Pulpit, arock formation on the west side, was in view looking quite eerie.
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
We climbed up anddown on rocks a bit while waiting for {name unknown} to catch up. After the steepscramble section, which actually looks like it’s more dangerous than it really is, wecontinued along a shelf type trail to the ridge. Still very open, we were now afforded moreviews to the north. We continued past the North Trail, an alternative to the AT when it istoo icy to traverse the inferno. I let David, Margot, Dr. Jenn and Chris know this would bea good return route for them when they head back so they could get different views. Wecontinued on from here across the ridge. The continueous views made this section spectacular. It felt as if we were walking acrossan area devestated by a nuclear disaster.
Chris's panorama of Lehigh gap PA
The Zinc Smelting waste Land...amazing
Dr. Jenn in the zinc waste land
Along the AT near Lehigh Gap
AT near Lehigh Gap
At near Lehigh Gap
AT near Lehigh Gap
AT near Lehigh Gap
AT near Lehigh Gap
AT near Lehigh Gap
AT near Lehigh Gap
View from the AT area
Along the AT
The AT north of Lehigh Gap
AT north of Lehigh Gap
Along the AT near Little gap
Along the AT near Little Gap
Along the AT near Little Gap
Along the AT near Little Gap
Along the AT looking
Along the AT near Little Gap
Along the AT near Little Gap
Along the AT near Little Gap
Along the AT near Little Gap PA
Along the AT near Little Gap
Along the AT near Little Gap
Along the AT near Lehigh Gap
Winter Trail view
The Winter Trail at Lehigh Gap
Zinc Smelting waste land of Lehigh Gap
Chris and Jen at Lehigh Gap
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Lehigh Gap PA
Along the AT
Ascending along the AT from Little Gap
View across Little Gap
View from the east side of Little Gap
Along the AT north of Little Gap
View from a side trail from the AT, looking south.
Former LNE railroad right of way
Gag mailbox.
Abandoned house near Lehigh Gap
When I explained the Zinc smelting, Skylercommented the rest of the day about how he loved Zinc smelting for what it did. Most ofthe views we had were to the north, and we eventually entered a somewhat wooded area.When we reached a power line, I climbed up it to see the view to the south. Near here,David and Margot decided to turn back. The five of us continued on into woods anddescended into Little Gap. This was a more dramatic gap than Smith Gap which was thelast one we visited on the Blue Mountain Ridge. Dr. Jenn and Chris decided to turn backat the next road. We continued on ascending the ridge on the other side. Skyler and I got far ahead on theascent. There was a nice view as we climbed through coniferous forests. Soon after wewere in the woods without views for some time. Skyler and {name unkown} went aheadof me at one point while I checked out a side trail to a nice viewpoint to the south. We continued on seemingly forever till we reached Delps Trail where we descended. Thespring on the way down was once again dry. We reached the bottom of the ridge and once again headed into Delps where the LNErailroad right of way was visible. We turned right on a road parallel to it. The railbed wasjust to the right of us for a while, but it was easier to just stay on the road. Soon, the roadmade a turn left where the railbed continued straight. Unfortunitely, the grade, now in ashallow cut, had been dug deeper to accomodate a drainage system. It was full of water.We opted to just stay on the road. We continued on the street, through a village calledArndts, then to Slatefield on the way to Danielsville. In Slatefield area, we talked to a guywho owned a portion of the railbed, but it was inaccessable. We had to walk roads intoDanielsville. We were running low on water, and all the stores in town were closed! Ifound where the railroad used to cross the street, but it did not look feasable to walk itdue to developement around it. It was decided here that I would run back to Lehigh Gapto get the camaro and pick them up. As quickly as I could I followed the road at the base of the ridge, passing by anabandoned house and through many woods westbound. My Northampton County mapwas inaccurate, as the road used to make a fork, and was now abandoned on the route Ineeded! I continued back to Rt 248 and followed the road to the parking area on the LNEgrade. I hopped in the Camaro and raced to pick up Skyler and {name unknown}. Ibrought them back to the Lehigh Gap parking area where we said our goodbyes, andSkyler and I were on our way home. As I entered Bath PA, I hit my breaks in town and the car did not respond! I made myway around another car and took it easy heading east. Before we reached Newburg, Idecided to pull off to a side road and play with the breaks to see if I could get them towork better, and I could not. I finally decided to call AAA to have the car towed. Wewaited quite some time for service, and I drove the Camaro for the last time when I pulledit into my parking spot at home. This was quite a sad way to end the day.
Photos by Mike Helbing, Chris Metaxas (CM), Jenn Redmond (JR), and Skyler Jermyn (SJ)
Here's a link to all of the pictures from this hike:
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/sneezehorse/hike213%204-15-6/
And here's desciptions of what they are...
- 1.) View from the parking area, former Lehigh and New England Railroad right of way, with "The Inferno", east side of Lehigh Gap in view.
- 2.) LNE Rail right of way in Lehigh Gap (CM)
- 3.) Dr. Jenn on a rock in Lehigh Gap (CM)
- 4.) The LNE right of way in Lehigh Gap (CM)
- 5.) View south along the Lehigh River from the gap (CM)
- 6.) Across from the parking area, old farm houses and abandoned Lehigh Valley Railroad right of way in view (CM)
- 7.) David Noble, Me, and Skyler ascending the gap on the Appalachian Trail (CM)
- 8.) The first view on the way up on the AT (CM)
- 9.) View of a former dam site on the Lehigh River to the south (CM)
- 10.) Me on the AT just before reaching the "Inferno" section of Lehigh Gap (SJ)
- 11.) Making our way up the inferno on the AT (CM)
- 12.) Looking over the Lehigh Valley from the inferno (CM)
- 13.) Taking a break on the inferno (CM)
- 14.) Margot and David climbing the inferno's steepest sections
- 15.) View of the Lehigh to the south
- 16.) View through Lehigh Gap north toward Palmerton
- 17.) Dr. Jenn and Chris climbing the inferno at it's steepest part
- 18.) Another view of Jenn and Chris climbing
- 19.) Me making my way up the inferno. (CM)
- 20.) Yet another one of me (CM)
- 21.) Northfacing view through Lehigh Gap (CM)
- 22.) Taking a break on the rocks (CM)
- 23.) Chris on a cliff at Lehigh Gap
- 24.) Taking a break on the rocky outcroppings of the inferno (CM)
- 25.) Making our way over the outcropping (CM)
- 26.) Still crossing the outcropping
- 27.) View to the north (CM)
- 28.) View of the west end of Lehigh Gap (CM)
- 29.) David and Margot making the final ascent to the top of Blue Mountain. The Lehigh and New England Railroad's trestle site is within view in the background.
- 30.) Skyler on the AT ascending from Lehigh Gap
- 31.) Final ascent of Blue Mountain on the AT (CM)
- 32.) A Panoramic view Chris put together showing a more complete view (CM)
- 33.) Making our way through the first small stand of trees after the ascent through the inferno
- 34.) Barren lands on Blue Mountain at Lehigh Gap (SJ)
- 35.) On top of Blue Mountain where the Zinc smelting had affected vegetation growth
- 36.) Jenn and I leading the way on the ridge (CM)
- 37.) View to the south from the AT (CM)
- 38.) Dr. Jenn in one of the barren wastelands (CM)
- 39.) Making our way along the Blue Mountain Ridge
- 40.) View to the north from the Blue Mountain with the Chestnut Ridge and the valley of the Aquashicola Creek in view
- 41.) Another view with industries in sight in the valley to the north
- 42.) More barren wastelands
- 43.) Skyler standing in the barren wastelands, looking like ground zero of a nuclear weapon
- 44.) Me crossing a descelate open area on Blue Mountain (CM)
- 45.) On top of Blue Mountain (CM)
- 46.) Me on the AT on Blue Mountain (JR)
- 47.) Pines on top of Blue Mountain (CM)
- 48.) The AT route along a woods road on Blue Mountain (CM)
- 49.) More on top of Blue Mountain (CM)
- 50.) View through a little valley to the north (CM)
- 51.) On top of Blue Mountain Ridge (CM)
- 52.) Looking at the north view off Blue Mountain (CM)
- 53.) Another view, facing northwest into the valley of the Aquashicola (CM)
- 54.) Dr. Jenn apparently dancing (CM)
- 55.) Another shot of the little valley to the north of the AT on Blue Mountain within State Game Lands 168.
- 56.) Northwest facing view
- 57.) A rocky outcropping to the south of the AT on Blue Mountain in State Game Lands 168, just west of Little Gap (CM)
- 58.) Dr. Jenn on the AT at the junction of Winter Trail, on her and Chris's way back to their car (CM)
- 59-71.) Dr. Jenn and Chris's return trip to their cars using the AT and the alternative Winter Trail to the LNE rail grade back to the parking lot (CM)
- 72.) View north from a rocky open area on the ascent from Little Gap
- 73.) Skyler making his way back up from Little Gap on the AT at this rocky open area
- 74.) View of the west side of Little Gap from the east side7
- 5.) Skyler at a northwest facing view from the east side of Little Gap
- 76.) Skyler drinking some Arbor Mist along the AT east of Little Gap
- 77.) A view south from Blue Mountain off a blue blazed side trail from the AT between Little Gap and Delps Trail
- 78.) The Lehigh and New England Railroad right of way in Delps PA.
- 79.) A mailbox reading "Air Mail" in the Slatefield area.
- 80.) An abandoned house along the road just west of Danielsville PA
- 81.) Lehigh Gap from the south as the sun was setting
Sunset over Lehigh Gap
No comments:
Post a Comment