Hike #285 5/20/7
Group shot at off trail vista, Lehigh Furnace Gap
A fun hike to look back on...and the Tall One just requested it! "Y'KNOW< I NEVER STEPPED ON A NAIL!"
I don't even remember what I wrote, I think I was trying to sound professional but I left out so much good stuff...like the infamous hoagie roll thing. Maybe someone else would like to add that to the story...
5/20/7 Lehigh Furnace Gap AT/Lehigh and New England Railroad loop with Ron Phelps, Dave "Captain Soup" Campbell, Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, Gerry Martiniak, Fred Hafale, Rich Pace, Joe Tag, "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Russ Moyer, Christine "The Tall One" Roach.
Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap
In Lehigh Furnace Gap with my AMC top mileage hiker thing.
Scrambling west from Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap scramble
Lehigh Furnace Gap
Off trail scramble Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap view
Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap view
Lehigh Furnace Gap view
Lehigh Furnace Gap view
Lehigh Furnace Gap view
Lehigh Furnace Gap view
Off trail climbing out of Lehigh Furnace Gap
Off trail scrambling at Lehigh Furnace Gap
Scrambling off trail in Lehigh Furnace Gap
Off trail scrambling, Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap view
Lehigh Furnace Gap view
Off trail scrambling, Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap
Bushwhacking Lehigh Furnace Gap
Bushwhacking Lehigh Furnace Gap
Bushwhacking Lehigh Furnace Gap
Blue Mountain rock bushwhacking
Blue Mountain Bushwhacking
Bushwhacking Lehigh Furnace Gap
Scrambling in Lehigh Furnace Gap
Climbing from Lehigh Furnace Gap off trail
View off trail of Lehigh Furance Gap
Rock outcrop over Lehigh Furnace Gap
Rock overhang in Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap
Looking across Lehigh Furnace Gap
My next hike would be another loop utilizing both the Appalachian Trail and former Lehigh and New England Railroad westward in Pennsylvania. I had been continueing to make my way west on both these routes, and this was the next one down the line. The beginning point of this almost loop was Lehigh Furnace Gap where the road crossed the AT. Joining me this time would be past participants Fred Hafale, "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Ron Phelps, Rich Pace, Dave "Captain Soup" Campbell, Christine "The Tall One" Roach, Russ Moyer, Joe Tag, Gerry Martiniak, and Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews. Rich and Ron had recently scouted a new off trail section, so we opted to follow them for the first couple miles to make for a more interesting trip. We began on a piece of the Appalachian Trail only to cut off into the weeds. Rich led the way to an off trail overlook and some interesting boulder outcroppings. The climbing was tricky but not that dangerous. We made our way through more undergrowth again, and we were led to yet another viewpoint with an incredible protruding rock overhang.
Rock overhang, off trail in Lehigh Furnace Gap
View above Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
Rock outcrop above Lehigh Furnace Gap
Rock out crop, Lehigh Furnace Gap
It's like a diving board into Lehigh Furnace Gap...
Outcrop in Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
Lehigh Furnace Gap area
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
Out crop above Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
Group shot off trail near Lehigh Furnace Gap
Above Lehigh Furnace Gap
Crazy rock outcroppings
Rock outcrop above Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
View off trail from the west end of Lehigh Furnace Gap
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail view
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail view
Off trail view
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail view
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail view
Blue Mountain
View into Lehigh Furnace Gap
Overlook off trail
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Off trail scrambling on Blue Mountain
Weird knife edge outcroppings on Blue Mountain
Heading to a view point on Blue Mountain
Another insane outcrop
Woods
AT Shelter, Bake Oven.
Bake oven Shelter
Bake Oven Knob
View from Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
View from Bake Oven Knob
View from Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Graffiti on Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
View from Bake Oven Knob
Me climbing around on Bake Oven Knob
Climbing around on Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
View from Bake Oven Knob
View from Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Bake Oven Knob
Appalachian Trail near Bake Oven Knob
Approaching Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks along the AT
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Climbing Baer Rocks
View from Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
We took turns taking pictures and standing on the dangerous looking rock. After a long break we continued on, passing by an incredible knife edge rock. We kept bushwhacking only to find that we were very close to the AT. We regrouped at the point where we met the trail, then continued westbound. We continued on the AT over some cool rock outcroppings making our next stop at the Bake Oven Knob Shelter to sign a trail register, then ascended to Bake Oven Knob with some great views. We hung out here for a good break and Wyatt and I climbed around a bit. I climbed directly up the side for kicks. When we got under way, we crossed Bake Oven Knob road and continued on the AT westbound, stopping for another break when we reached the Baer Rocks.
Climbing Baer Rocks
Climbing Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks view
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
oooh boy
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
Baer Rocks
On The Cliffs
View from the Cliffs
The Knife Edge along the AT
The Knife Edge cliffs
View from the Knife Edge cliffs
Knife Edge
Knife Edge
Knife Edge
Knife Edge
Knife Edge
View of Rt 309 on the AT
View of Rt 309 on the AT
AT view
AT view
AT view
View along the AT
View along the AT
View along the AT
View along the AT
View along the AT
Viewpoing along the AT, Blue Mountain PA. Joe brought a plush chicken?
At a view on the AT
View along the AT
Rest stop at a view along the AT. For some reason Captain Soup keeps untagging himself. He can't win what he doesn't keep.
Tree tumor along the AT
Rest stop along the AT
Farm view, north side of Blue Mountain
Old woods road down the north end of Blue Mountain
North side of Blue Mountain
Farm views on north side of Blue Mountain
Ridge Road coming down Blue Mountain
Ridge Road heading down the north side of Blue Mountain
Along former LNE rail bed
Former Lehigh Valley Railroad bed in the valley behind Blue Mountain
Former LNE rail bed
Former LNE rail bed
Along former Lehigh and New England Railroad near Blue Mountain in PA
Along former Lehigh and New England Railroad near Blue Mountain in PA
Road crossing at Ash Circle
Old Andreas Station along former LNE railroad
Old Andreas Station
Andreas Railroad Station
Old Andreas Station
In Old Andreas Station
Old Andreas Station
Old LNE rail bed east of Andreas Station
Mr. Buckett: "You know....I never stepped on a nail before....OW!!!! YOU GOTTA BE F***ING KIDDING ME!!!".
Sooo funny
On the old LNE railroad bed in Andreas area
The Tall One's shoes
Resting along the LNE right of way
Rail bed east of Andreas Station
Probably a former quarry site
Old quarry site along the rail bed
Abandoned quarry site
Old rail bed
Old rail bed
Messed up walkways along former LV railroad bed, Ashfield PA
Gallows in Ashfield PA
Gallows in Ashfield PA
Gallows along the rail bed near Ashfield PA
It even says "The Gallows". Weird place.
Very strange spot
Mr. Buckett stepped on a nail
Strange spot along the rail bed in Ashfield
LV rail bed, now a driveway in Ashfield PA
Abandoned building ruins in Ashfield PA
End of the hike, back in Lehigh Furnace Gap
Most of us ascended to the outcroppings to climb around a bit. I had not visited this spot since Rich first brought me here in 1997 I think it was! We had a good time wandering, and Wyatt and I climbed directly up one of the rocks. When we finished this side trip, we continued on along the AT, which went quick. The most significant point was a knife edge traversed by the trail known as "the cliffs". We had one more great viewpoint after the cliffs looking over PA Rt 309 before we descended just a bit and reached the same highway. At this point, Rich, Joe, and Amish Paul opted to cut out early. The rest of us continued walking, first turning right on Rt 309, then cutting into the woods on a long abandoned road descending to the north side of the Blue Mountain. The old road began being very washed out, but then turned into an easy walk as we descended to where the road was still used as a dead end residential road. There was a lady working in her garden, and we asked her if she knew how to get to the railroad right of way. She knew, and we tried to follow her directions. As we continue on, the views with farmland around us were breathtaking. As we made our way down hill, there were some kids riding giant ATVs, so we asked them how to get to the rail bed, knowing that's where they must have been. They told us where to access it and which homes were nearest to them so we knew what to look for. Sure enough, we found first the Lehigh Valley Railroad's right of way, followed by the Lehigh and New England which we followed into the woods to the east. The rail bed was very clear and easy to follow to my surprise. In fact, we were able to follow it relatively easily the entire way back to Ashfield area. There were times we reache some overgrown areas, but it was never overwhelming. The right of way remained clear for quite some time, until we reached the old Andreas Station, still standing and in reasonable shape along a road crossing. We went inside to have a look around, which ended up working out well because it had just begun raining a bit. Despite the cold rain, I took a dip in the Lizard Creek nearby to soothe the burning between my legs from the chaffing of my shorts. On the other side of the grade crossing it appeared we'd be bushwhacking, but the right of way remained surprisingly clear enough to continue on. Along the way, Gerry picked up some boards with nails in them, and Mr. Buckett began commenting on how he'd never stepped on a nail. He'd spoken too soon, as he almost immediately stepped on an old door knob with a nail protruding from it. Ron treated his foot and I pried the nail from his boot, which was surprisingly tough. At one point, the former Lehigh Valley Railroad, within sight from the LNE grade, seemed to be the easier route to follow. Fred led the group up there while only Wyatt and I opted to stay on the LNE. We ended up joining them when the grade was full of water in a small cut. There was one other time they tried to follow the LV grade and it abruptly came to an end, and was obliterated near a pond. There was one place where the LNE grade was posted with signs over it, and it was well mowed, so we went out to the LV grade there as well. We soon passed through an abandoned quarry area and checked out an office building before moving on. It was a bit difficult trying to find the grade through this part, but we soon found it. There were a few iffy spots where I thought we'd lose it, but it was always soon obvious where it was. Before we reached the Ashfield Road, the LNE again seemed impossible to follow so we opted for the LV grade, and we found some weird wooden structures, the first of which had an elaborate set of walkways around it with a Gallows in the middle! To the left was spray painted "The Gallows". We climbed around on it a bit, and passed a couple others on the way down. Through this area, we were surprised to see Amish Paul driving his Suburu down the right of way! He somehow managed to find an access point to the grade and decided to drive it despite the many whoops made by the ATV traffic. Amish Paul slowly shuttled some of the group back up the hill to where we met in the morning, coming back and picking people up. I continued on with Fred, the Tall One, Wyatt, and Russ until we reached the Ashfield Road. We walked quite a ways up the ridge on the road before Gerry returned to pick us up in his car. Only Russ continued to the top alone on the road, to which we applauded when he rather quickly reached the top by his own strenth. Some of us went to eat at Chili's I think it was in Allentown after this, a very tiring hike!
Here's some descriptions of what the pictures are of. There's a photobucket link following.
1.) In Lehigh Furnace Gap getting ready...(FH)2.) Mr. Buckett and Ron getting ready...Mr. Buckett was blasting loud music (FH)3.) Amish Paul, Fred, me, and Wyatt at Lehigh Furnace Gap with the "Footnotes" newsletter that included my picture as top mileage hiker for 2006 (RP)4.) On the AT heading west from Lehigh Furnace Gap (FH)5.) Along the AT (RP)6.) Ascending from the gap over rocks (RP)7.) The group making their way out of LFG on the AT8.) More of the group ascending (FH)9.) Rich and Russ off trail above Lehigh Furnace Gap10.) More off trail stuff (FH)11.) Captain Soup at one of the first viewpoints (CR)12.) One of our first views13.) Here I am surveying the land (RP)14.) Here we are during the bushwhack section (RP)15.) Another nice view16.) Another view (FH)17.) Yet another angle...(FH)18.) View sort of along the ridge (FH)19.) a view to the west from the ridge (FH)20.) Rich, Russ, and Captain Soup descending from the rocky outcrops off trail21.) Rich on the off trail climb on Blue Mountain22.) Still climbing...23.) Rich photographing the group climbing24.) Gerry on the bushwhack section (RP)25.) Trying to navigate the rocks (RP)26.) Amish Paul and the Tall One climbing27.) Mr. Buckett bushwhacking (FH)28.) Fred fighting through the weeds (RP)29.) Russ coming through the weeds (RP)30.) More of Russ in the weeds (RP)31.) The group on an off trail rock on Blue Mountain (RP)32.) More bushwhacking up hill (RP)33-35.) More of us climbing up Blue Mountain off trail (RP)36.) View across Lehigh Furnace Gap off trail37.) Wyatt on a protruding rock off trail on the Blue Mountain38.) Wyatt on the rock (FH)39.) Another one of Wyatt on the rock (FH)40.) View across Lehigh Furnace Gap (FH)41.) View north of Lehigh Furnace Gap toward Ashfield (FH)42.) Another north facing view toward the valley of the Lizard Creek (FH)43-44.) The Tall One and I at the overhanging rock (WH)45.) Me on the rock (RP)46.) Another one of the Tall One and I on the rock (WH)47-48.) Captain Soup at the off trail view (WH)49.) Rich checking out the view50.) Hanging out at the viewpoint (RP)51.) Me reaching for my camera (WH)52.) Russ out on the rock (RP)53.) Ron and Rich at the viewpoint54.) Russ out on the protruding rock (RP)55.) Another one of Russ on the rock (RP)56.) Another view across Lehigh Furnace Gap (RP) 57.) Still taking a break at the rocks (RP)58.) The group at the viewpoint! (RP)59.) The entire group at the viewpoint (RP)60.) Still chatting at the viewpoint (RP)61.) Me on the rock outcrop (WH)63.) A plain view of the overhanging rock64.) A view to the north from the rocky outcrop65.) Wyatt on the rock overhang66.) Mr. Buckett on the rock overhang67.) More off trail stuff I think (FH)68.) Rich and Ron at the view (FH)69-83.) More views, hanging out, and posing at the viewpoints (FH)84.) View across Lehigh Furnace Gap85.) Another view toward the gap86.) View to the north87.) Continueing along the ridge off trail88.) More of the group on the off trail viewpoints89.) Me making my way over rocks (RP)90.) Wyatt and I crossing the rocks (RP)91.) Navigating the rocks more (RP)92.) Wyatt climbing a little knife edge we found off trail along the way93.) Wyatt apparently almost falling off or jumping from the knife edge rock94.) Another shot of the knife edge rock (CR)95.) Continueing west along the AT96.) Captain Soup on a rocky outcropping97.) The woods! (FH)98.) Wyatt, me, Tall One, and Captain Soup visiting the Bake Oven Knob shelter (RP)99.) Amish Paul and Wyatt in the shelter signing the trail register100.) Wyatt upon the rocks101.) View to the south102.) The group navigating more rocks (RP)103.) Ron on the rocks104.) Perched upon the rocks!105.) view eastbound106.) Another view from the rocks107.) View looking from the rocks to the north of the Blue Mountain108.) The Tall One navigating the rocks109.) A Garfield drawn on the rocks...110.) The group on Bake Oven Knob (CR)111.) More of the group on the 'knob (RP)112.) The group on Bake Oven Knob (RP)113.) View out from Bake Oven Knob114.) Me climbing Bake Oven Knob (RP)115.) Me on the rocks below Bake Oven Knob (WH)116.) Wyatt in the rocky outcroppings below the 'knob117.) Me in the rocky outcroppings (WH)118.) Me flexing on Bake Oven Knob while Wyatt is slapping my back (CR)119-120.) Views! (FH)121.) Captain Soup and I on Bake Oven Knob (FH)122.) The Tall One on Bake Oven Knob (FH)123.) Joe and Ron on Bake Oven Knob area (FH)124.) Ron on the 'knob (FH)125.) The Tall One and Gerry (FH)126.) Amish Paul taking a break on one of the rocks (FH)127.) Ron's head popping out behind a rock (FH)128.) The group resting on Bake Oven Knob (FH)129.) Joe and Gerry on the 'knob (FH)130.) More of us on the knob (FH)131.) Looking north from Bake Oven Knob (FH)132.) View along Blue Mountain from Bake Oven Knob (FH)133.) Amish Paul on knob (FH)134.) Yet another view from the knob (FH)135.) Another view (FH)136.) Other hikers who arrived at Bake Oven Knob (FH)137-140.) Still resting on the knob (FH)141.) The Appalachian Trail just west of Bake Oven Knob (CR)142.) Making our way to Baer Rocks (FH)143.) The Tall One on Baer Rocks (FH)144.) Ascending to Baer Rocks (RP)145.) Russ and Ron on Baer Rocks146.) Another one of them on the rocks (RP)147.) Captain Soup joined Russ and Ron up on the rocks (RP)148.) Joe, the Tall One, and Amish Paul on Baer Rocks149.) Me climbing some of the Baer Rocks (CR)150.) I'm almost to the top! (CR)151.) The Tall One (CR)152.) Somewhat of a view from Baer Rocks (CR)153.) Wyatt climbing Baer Rocks154.) View from the top of the Baer Rocks155.) Wyatt climbing the Baer Rocks156.) Another view from Baer Rocks157.) Rich and Mr. Buckett on Baer Rocks158.) Resting on the rocks159.) Wyatt and I at a little opening between Baer Rocks160.) More of the group on the rocks161.) Captain Soup and Joe on Baer Rocks162-163.) Wyatt climbing around on a crazy part of Baer Rocks164.) Ron descending from the rocks (RP)165.) More descending from the rocks (RP)166-170.) Descending from Baer Rocks (FH)171.) Continueing along the AT west (RP)172.) On a knife edge along the AT known as "The Cliffs"173.) View from "The Cliffs" (FH)174-175) Walking on the AT along "The Cliffs" (FH)176.) View from The Cliffs (FH)177.) The group on "The Cliffs"178.) Joe and Captain Soup on "the Cliffs"179.) More on "The Cliffs" (FH)180.) Making our way across the cliffs (RP)181.) More on the cliffs182.) A great view from the AT (FH)183.) Another great AT view with PA Rt 309 in view184.) Yet another view185.) Another view with Rt 309 in it186.) Another one of Fred's view shots (FH)187.) Ron at the view (FH)188-190.) More of Fred's shots (FH)191.) The group resting at the viewpoint on the AT192.) More of the group at the viewpoint, and Joe showing off his chicken he had in his bag193.) Rich took his shoes off!194.) A final view to the south from the AT195.) The group getting ready to leave the viewpoint (FH)196.) Wyatt with a weirdly deformed tree197.) The group resting and stretching on this access road along the AT and PA Rt 309198.) Making our way down the ridge on an old woods road199.) View of the countryside on the north of the Blue Mountain200.) On one of the dirt roads north of Blue Mountain201.) Another farm view north of Blue Mountain202.) More lovely farm views (CR)203.) Walking the road north from Blue Mountain, the group descending (FH)204.) Heading into the valley of the Lizard Creek 205.) Lehigh Valley Railroad bed looking east206.) Fred on the Lehigh and New England right of way207.) The group heading east on the LNE grade (FH)208.) Me on the rail bed (FH)209.) More of the group heading east210.) Former grade crossing (FH)211.) We had to divert a bit sometimes because of wet conditions! (FH)212.) Andreas Railroad Station213.) The Tall One checks out the station (FH)214.) Historical marker on the Andreas Railroad Station215.) Inside the station216.) Wyatt in the old station217.) Outside of the station218.) Walking the right of way east of Andreas219.) Ron treating Mr. Buckett's foot after he stepped on a nail (FH)220.) More of the treatment of Buckett's foot221.) Me going through my pack looking for bandages (FH)222.) The Tall One's shoes (CR)223.) Russ and Gerry waiting while Buckett's foot is repaired and Tall One photographs her shoes for some reason (FH)224.) We're on our way east again! (FH)225.) At an abandoned quarry area along the right of way226.) An abandoned office building in the quarry area227.) Ron and Russ in the old building228.) Continueing on the rail bed east from the quarry area229.) Wyatt climbing onto the weird gallows along the LV right of way230.) More of the weird walkways around the gallows231.) Wyatt on the gallows232.) Wyatt and the Tall One on the gallows233.) Another view of the gallows (FH)234.) Wyatt and I climbing around on the structures (FH)235.) Another view of the obviously named structure (CR)236.) Same thing again237.) Tall One and Ron on the right of way near Ashfield238.) A gutted old house just south of Ashfield on the Blue Mountain Road239.) Russ after making the climb up Blue Mountain!240.) Guillermo at dinner in Allentown241.) The Tall One at dinner242.) Me (WH)243.) The sunset on the way home (CR)
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