Back in July the Pocono Environmental Education Center offered a waterfall tour at the Water Gap. I had hope to go, but things did not turn out the way I planned. A few weeks ago they posted it again. I clicked that I was interested and invited the teen and Angel. But I couldn't get tickets ... I called within 24 hours of the posting and they were already out. About two weeks ago they called there was now room. Did I still want the tickets? I said yes. Angel confirmed that she and the teen could still come.
Meanwhile in Allentown Pam scored tickets for her family. Then Lisa scored hers. I think I knew half of the 11-person group. We should have taken a full group photo.
Before C19 they would have taken us in one or two vans. But now only 4 people could be in a 8-person van. We scored the red one. The naturalist told us the trail was "flat and easy".
Our first two falls were at Dingman's Ferry. It was 9:15 on a Sunday morning and the lot was half-full when we arrived. The park would be packed by the time we left. Like all parks they are having an issue with overcrowding. Angel noted that few plates were from Pennsylvania. That is also a consistent issue.
We followed a road -- which surprised me -- to very stinky comfort stations and a restored chalet and it was uphill all the way. What happened to easy and flat? I guess compared to the rest of the Gap this was flat. But I'm awful on hills. At the beginning I was walking behind Angel and Eva and Pam was next to me. Soon everyone was very far ahead. It reached a point where I could no longer see anyone in front of me. Then I saw something. It was the teen. She came back for me. She probably did this 6 times thru the course of the hike. I know sometimes she drives them nuts, but Angel and Darrell did good with that kid.
This was the actual trailhead but it was closed off because of all the over crowding. That's the real reason we had to walk in the road.
Tall and thin, it cut thru the shale like a knife. And it really did look like a thread falling down the rocks.
The boardwalk continued to Dingman's Ferry. The view from the base was nice, but I noticed some stairs. I thought maybe they went to the top. I was trying to get Angels attention when the naturalist announced there were stairs to go to the top.
I counted them as I climbed. Angel added them. There was ± 200. I waited till the end of the group because I didn't want people stuck behind me. When did stairs get so hard? I love climbing stairs. I used to do stair climbs. If only I had my body from 10 years ago. (There is a certain irony that once I started exercising, my body fell apart.) In my next life I'm taking care of my knees. Halfway up the stairs the view was great. The top not so much.
I saw Angel standing on some rocks and climbed up. And then she was gone. I turned around and started coming back. Angel and Pam offered their hands. I said no. I did not want to crush them when I fell. Pam then offered her walking stick. I took that and with the two I managed to get down again. And Angel was gone again. This became a recurring theme. I was beginning to think it was me, but it turns out that her back/hip was bothering her and moving was better than standing. Either that or she was shape shifting in the woods. It was quick. My money is on shape shifting.
While we were at the falls the naturalist told us that many of the falls they go to on this hike are dry. I was beginning to think these were the only two that we'd see. When we returned to the parking lot they offered us another falls. We'd come back late if we went. We all said let's do it. Angel and I both tripped getting back in the van.
The second trail to Hornbeck Falls was much more rustic and had multiple bridges often made from fallen trees with rails. Again, the teen acted as my personal assistant. And damn I was grateful. It was uphill again, but not as bad as the first one. But still I lagged behind. The front group got to rest and when we caught up they started again. No break for us. These falls were wide and falling like a sheet of rain down a shear drop.
We turned around, and came back out and headed back to the vans and back to the PEEC. As we approached I asked if the dome was some sort of lights. It's actually a sculpture made from soda bottles and is a dandelion. They also had a giant chair that was low enough for me to get into.
The naturalist told us about another falls trail on their property that's supposed to have incredible views. There are also cabins to stay in if you want to explore more of the Gap. Yes please. I want to look into renting a cabin so we can spend two days exploring in the area without the huge drive.
We drove on Route 209 to go to the Water Gap. Many things have changed. Many have not. One obvious difference is the giant gold Buddha at the old Fernwood Resort. It's now the Buddhist World Peace Center. Angel got this shot from a moving car. You can never get a red light when you want one. If I go this way again, I'll park across the street at the Wawa and get a proper picture.
We took Route 33 home and on to Route 22 and exited at 25th street. There was a commotion ahead at the old KMart. The Trumpsters were having a rally. They had signs about stopping Communism and Socialism, but none about Fascism. I think they need a new dictionary. Or maybe a history book. Driving to her house we played a new game. Which Republican president -- living, dead, convicted, disgraced -- would you vote for before you voted for Trump. The list was glorious.
Photos: Angel Ackerman, Pam Lott, Lisa Massey
2 comments:
It was a very fun day! We need to go back.
Lovely day. I mentioned to my family how terrible it always is to bring up the rear and not get a break when everyone else did. Problem this time was the spot got crowded with other people but we should have rested further up!!! You did great!!!
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