Great Hike

With Lisa out of town, I wanted to try and get in a few post-work hikes. Last night, I went to Jacobsburg SP straight from work, near the town or Wind Gap, and at the foot of the Blue Ridge and the AT. This is one gem of a park. This was intended to be a scouting trip for future outings, but will not be my last visit to the park.

I got there about 6pm, and walked until about 745. I figure that I did about 5 miles or so. The section of the park that I did have a really nice variety within the trails. I started in a gorge, and headed towards some historical structures, remains of an old settlement and gunworks. From there, I followed the trail up another hill, where it evened out in some open grasslands/fallow farmfields (great for birds!). It then went back into the woods, and finally back along Bushkill Creek, on the helmock-lined side of the ravine.

The creek has several access points, for wading, educational programs, fishing, and even dogs.

Jacobsburg is also an Environmental Education Center, which has outdoor classrooms, the afore-mentioned historical structures, and other activities. In the spring (beginning of April), they have a Woodcock Walk, where they take you into the fields to see the "sky dance" of the Woodcock. I have to remember to see this in the spring. They also have a bird blind, to hide out and watch the birds at the feeders.

The trails were nice and wide, and well maintained. Most of the trails here are multi-use, so they are double-track, and wide enough for hikers, bikers, and horses. I saw a garter snake, lots of birds (up close with a Downy Woodpecker), and lots more rabbits.

The weather cooled off nicely for the drive home, where I saw a hawk watching the median of Rt 33 from a light pole, and a hazy pink sunset over the Lehigh Valley. All this, while hearing Coldplay's "Don't Panic" on the iPod mix, was a great cap to a great outing.