Today was the Get Out Lehigh Valley hike at the Maple Track Preserve. It's right across the street from the Bethlehem Water Authority and the Pocono Raceway. "Located in the heart of the Pocono Plateau, the Maple Tract Preserve is a remnant of the long-ago glacial period that shaped most of this region. The glacial wetlands of the area are the natural pumps that feed local creeks and streams and provide critical habitat to a host of plants and wildlife. Not easily accessible, the preserve offers 680 acres of forest and oak brush thickets, marsh and laurel hells. A host of wildlife abounds here including bear, grouse, snowshoe hare and beaver." The last time they hiked here was in October, 2016. A lot has changed in two years. But it's still quite the rustic walk.
I met Pam and her friend Lisa at the Rt. 33 Park and Ride. And arrived at the park about 10 minutes early. I was still wearing flip flops. (I found them in my closet. I'll buy new Birks when these wear out.) Christine, the walk leader said "You're hiking in flip flops?" You should have seen her expression. It was priceless. It was Lisa's first GOLV hike.
Since Lisa had my phone for much of the walk I have a lot of good pictures. So this will be more of a photo essay.
This is the first Pond we reached. It had a lot of lily pads but no lilies. It was a tad disappointing.
Can you see the bear cub print? There was the much bigger one for mama, but people stepped on it.
The Mountain Laurel — the state flower of Pennsylvania — was plentiful. As was the blueberry bushes and teaberry.
The terrain was not flat and some hills were tough. Steep and wet. Glad I had my stick. At some places the trail was very narrow. And often I felt like I should have brought my loppers. There were live and dead trees in my face a lot.
There were many puncheon's, or boardwalks over the wetlands. Some of them weren't finished and we even encountered piles of lumber waiting to be used.
But there were also salamanders.
And lots more tracks. The big one here is a raccoon. We also saw skunk, deer, opossum, and several birds.
We also saw rock piles. Meditation or trail marker? I'm not sure. In the background, that brown area is a peat pond
At one point it was so muddy we actually split in two groups. I was in the group that stayed on the trail and made a makeshift bridge out of down trees branches. I had my walking stick so I could balance on the rough terrain. Pam and Lisa walked further "upstream" and crossed at a narrow area. But to do that you had to walk down a steep hill, cross, and then bush whack back to the trail. This section of the trail took you to a beaver pond, where there was plenty of evidence of beaver activity.
And lilies growing in the pond. Can you see the white flower?
The ticks and mosquitos were plentiful. We kept swatting each others butts and backs. I think every participant put on bug spray and Pam still got eaten alive by mosquitos. Every time she stopped walking a mosquito landed on her. We check ourselves carefully before getting in the car.
52-Hike Challenge: 27/52
Miles/Steps: 3
Weather: Mid-70s, sunny.
Wildlife: Heard wood thrush, scarlet tanager, and crows. Saw red tail hawk, and 3 red salamanders. Pam and Lisa saw a flying squirrel. (Not "Rocky". Wrong habitat for "Bullwinkle".) I missed it. Christine mentioned that this is a protected habitat for flying squirrels in her intro. Plus the beaver damage, so they have to be there somewhere, right? A (live) doe on the highway.
Extra: When we were bush whacking I somehow cut my arm on a branch. They insisted on putting a band-aid on it.
Extra: Lisa, Christine and another person carried the remnants of an ATV out of the forest.
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