Team Hike - Upcoming Hike

Team Hike Spring 2007 - June 15, 16, 17

Quick Notes: 1.8 miles in on Friday; 1.3 miles out on Sunday morning; Parking Friday night and Saturday night.

Click here to view the Hike Map

Click on one of these for directions:

Guys,

Looking forward to a real team hike. I had a chance to check out the area last week. Pretty thick woods, nice elevation, and easy access and parking for Friday and Saturday night. This is supposed to be the best part of the PA AT trail because of the 180 degree views. The trail is around 1200-1600 ft up and stays on a mountain ridge the whole time. I strongly recommend that everyone tries to get out there on Friday night. Saturdays hike looks really cool. But, if you can't make it Friday night, you have two options depending on what time you get up there. If you get up there early and want to hike, then I would park at Saturdays location and hike to meet us. If you get up there late Saturday night and don't want to walk far, then I would park at Sundays location and walk backwards to our camp. * The whole area is State Gaming land. Meaning they hunt there. Not sure if it is hunting season. Might want to wear something bright like Mike Hick's bright yellow wind breaker and pants or something orange. Be cool about packing beers when you leave the parking lot. Alcohol restricted in this area. Be discreet. Also, I recommend buying beer and food before you get out there. Only farm lands around this area, except the restaurant listed below. If you are meeting us on Saturday night, you might want to bring a compass so you know which way to hike on the trail. My instructions below tell you which way to hike south to north vs north to south. Pretty important so you don't go the wrong way on the Appalachian Trail.

Attached is a diagram of the hike I mapped out on the AT in Pennsylvania. The location is south of the Delaware Water Gap, near Hawk Mountain/Wind Gap, PA. We are hiking south to north which means left to right on the map. The elevation looks like the whole hike is on mountain ridges around 1200-1500 feet high. The AT books says this is the most scenic area of the whole PA section. Saturdays hike is supposed to have excellent 360 degree views of the area. Here is a brief breakdown of the weekend: ( I will send more details as we get closer)

Friday night: Park at the "P" in the circle on the map on the far left. Hike about 1.8 miles on the AT to the New Tripoli Campsite. Sounds like there is a natural spring there for water. Hike should take less than one hour (which is closer than the shelter for the Winter team hikes).

Saturday: Hike about 6 miles to Bake Oven Knob Shelter (he said knob). This sections supposedly has excellent 360 degree views through the Knife edge and the Bear rocks section. Hike should take about 3-4 hours.

Sunday: Hike out around 1.3 miles to the parking lot at Ashfield Road. Hike should be less than one hour.

Hopefully, everyone can make the Friday night campsite. If not, Saturday drivers can park at the State Game Lands lot which is the second "P" in the circle and on Bake Oven Knob Rd.

It's looks like an awesome hike. Since we are starting off real high in elevation, the hike should not be that difficult. The biggest climb in elevation is about 400 feet. Team hike back to the basics with some through hikes. Definitely can cook and pig out Friday night. Saturday night, you might have to a little more conservative in the weight you pack for Saturdays hike.

Fridays location: (strongly recommended for you losers thinking about coming up on Saturday)

If you have GPS or use map quest, plug in Pennsylvania, then Lynn County, then Gun Club Road. That will get you about a .5 mile away from the parking lot and trail locations.
Here are the map quest directions for Philadelphia, North Jersey and Gerba
(See attached file: directions to friday from north jersey.doc)(See attached file: directions for gerba.doc)(See attached file: directions from philadelphia friday night.doc)(See attached file: directions from wayne to friday night.doc)

These directions will get you to Rt. 309. Parking lot is off rt. 309. Once you hit rt. 309, you about 10-15 minutes away.
At intersection of Rt. 309 and Mountain Road, you are exactly 2.7 miles from the parking lot.
There will be a wood sign on a tree on the right saying "A.T. Maine-Georgia", make a quick right into the parking lot
If you pass the Blue Mountain Summit Restaurant -Lizard Creek on the left, you went pass it by 30 feet.
Park in lot. The hike is 1.8 miles to New Tripoli Campsite. Probably under a 2 hr walk.
We are hiking South to North on the A.T. Trail. Walk over the chained road and start hiking. Hike up the road. 5 minutes up, you can either enter the woods on the right with the white blazes or just keeping walking up the road. Gramps and I are going to sing and hold hands as we walk up the road vs taking the trail.
15 Minutes up, reach an vacant building and a Radio tower like the one on the TV show Lost. Walk through parking lot to very end. On the slight right, you will see a little clearing in the trees and a small trail entering into the woods. It's not marked. Easy to find when it is sunny.
50 feet up is the AT trail. Make a left and hike North.
According to the PA A.T. trail book- at .9 of a mile reach a ridge, continuing along woods road
At 1.8, beyond the power line the road becomes a trail and footway becomes rocky. A blue blazed trail to the left descends to base of valley in .2 miles, and then to the New Tripoli Campsite and Spring. WE WILL CAMP THERE.
Look for signs for New Tripoli Campsite and spring.

Saturday night: 3.1 mile hike, probably 2.5 hrs- good parking for those who want to do a little hiking.
On GPS- Plug in Pennsylvania, Germansville County, 9400 Bake Oven Road. This will get you about 2 miles away from parking lot.
Follow the same directions from the attachments above to Rt. 309.
At the intersection of Rt 309 and Mountain Road, make right onto Mountain Road.
Make left onto ULRICH ROAD. If you miss it, take left onto Bake Oven Road. Either way, Ulrich takes you to Bake Oven Road.
Take this road all the way up the mountain. Road becomes a rocky road.
Pass a house address on a tree saying 9400 Bake Oven Road. Almost there.
On right, there is a huge parking lot. Make right and Park.
According to the A.T. book- Park and cross Bake Oven road and hike North. Don't enter woods from parking lot. You need to cross the road first to hike North.
In book at mile mark 5.3 Pass over summit of Bake oven Knob, 1560ft elevation, to the right is really good view, Reach rock slide on the north side of mountain.
At mile mark 5.9, reach sign for Bake oven Knob Shelter and campsite is on south side of trail just below A.T. WE ARE NOT CAMPING HERE. STAY ON A.T. DON'T FOLLOW BLUE BLAZES , follow white A.T. blazes.
At mile marker 7.8 book says fine views to north where trail follows outcrop.
We will camp around mile marker 8. We'll leave signs are just call us on cells to find us. My cell is 908-447-7902.

Sunday parking: shorter hike to Saturdays camping spot vs Saturdays parking spot. Only 1.3 miles to camping spot. Probably about 45 minute walk.
Follow same directions for the attachments to reach Rt. 309.
At the intersection of Rt 309 and Mountain Road, make right onto Mountain Road.
Pass Bake Oven Road
Make left onto Reservoir Road. This road leads you to Ashfield Road.
On GPS- it is a little hard to find. Town might be Slatedale, then road would be Ashfield Road.
Take Ashfield road all the way up. Road becomes rocky through the mountains.
When you see power lines on the left, park there. Small parking area. If no room, try on the right side.
If you start going down hill on the road, you went to far.
Hiking on A.T. North to South.
Trail should be on the same side as the parking spot and power lines. There are white blazes across the street, but that would be hiking south to north, you want North to South on the A.T.
Gramps and I probably will leave a car there with some type of instructions.

Call me with any questions at 908-447-7902.

spugs