Lehigh Gap to Little Gap

May 11, 2019 

Tom, Shannon, Wyatt and Mike

5.5 miles

When you step back and look at the Lehigh Gap, with its exposed rock face rising to nearly 1500 feet, it is easy to understand why most hikers suggest that you make the hike in dry, sunny conditions.   It’s really not the place to be during a storm, or after a heavy rain when the rocks are still slippery.  Thankfully, our Mother’s Day weekend hike was perfect—sunny and dry.

I have not studied extensively the story of the Palmerton Superfund site that envelopes this area, and I know little of the geological or human history of Lehigh Gap---except that ages ago the Lehigh River cut a path through this part of the mountain and humans have likely been inhabiting it for 13,000 years.  It’s not essential to know these things.  But I would suggest that some background reading would help one understand just how this incredibly beautiful area was created, later partially spoiled and eventually remediated.  Both nature and man have played such a visible role in how the Gap looks today.

 

The four of us started out together around 9:30 in the morning and spent the next hour or so making the initial climb.  Once we cleared the treeline, the views of the river and farmhouses below were incredible and the perspective of the valley below is all encompassing.

As it turns out, Tom and I had the opportunity to see the views twice as we went up and then back down this part of the mountain.  The backstory is pretty simple:  when we made this hike, Tom was a few days away from having surgery on his arm.  We didn’t realize it, but the rock scramble is much safer when the hiker has use of two hands and can utilize the strength of both arms.  Shannon and Wyatt did the scramble up and  after giving it an honest shot, Tom and I opted for the alternate Winter Trail route and eventually met up with Shannon and Wyatt at the top of the ridge.

 

As the movie title says: “On a clear day, you can see forever.”  The remainder of the hike provided numerous chances to see forever.  The lookouts along the way are incredible and worthy of making this trek for a day hike whenever the weather is nice.  There is a nature center in the area, and much to learn about the raptors above and the important watershed below that provides drinking water for millions.

The hike to Little Gap is mostly level, but the rocks are as numerous as the vistas.  Therefore, much of our time was spent looking down at our feet.  This causes one to expend more energy than you might realize, and it adds a fair amount of time to the hike.  Except for a lunch (delicious Wawa hoagie), we kept moving and thankfully, our dedicated road warrior Mona was waiting for us upon our arrival.  We are always lucky to have her help and support along the way!

One post-script: a few days after our hike, Tom underwent a successful surgery and has regained mobility in his shoulder and arm.

With two more segments to go, we will soon complete the AT in PA.