Four years ago we hiked the AT west of Culvers Gap. We did an out-and-back to
Brink's Road in a dense fog so stubborn that it didn't lift the entire 4.5 hours we were on the ridge, so all of the views were hidden.
Last night I decided we'd give it another try, since the weather was to be partly cloudy, partly sunny. As luck would have it, we awoke this morning to a
dense fog! Forecasts had it lifting by mid-morning, but when we arrived at Culvers Gap it was thicker than ever.
I had a circuit in mind which first climbed the ridge and then returned along Kittatinny Lake. We decided to hike it in reverse, hoping the fog would lift by the
time we reached the ridge.
Once again we parked at the large parking area on Route 636, and headed west along the AT. After crossing Route 206 we walked along the road on the southern bank of Kittatinny Lake on a very pleasant stretch. Only one car drove past us on the enchanting lane, peppered with lovely cottages overlooking the lake. At the western tip of the lake we headed into Stokes State Forest through a fire gate on a woods road (labeled simply "Woods Road" on the NYNJTC map). This we took west all the way to another woods road labeled "Coss Road" which we took north and then headed east on the Steffen Trail. At the intersection with the relatively new Red Maple Trail we headed south. We descended sharply on the Red Maple back to Woods Road, crossing it and then began climbing the ridge. The trail ended at the mid-point of Jacob's Ladder trail which we then took south up the ridge to the AT, next heading east. By the time we got to our first vista the fog had lifted! It was cloudy but the views are amazing. Continuing east we picked up the Acropolis trail via an unmaintained connecting path. The views north from the Acropolis trail were magnificent as the sun finally began to shine. We then winded down the ridge along the Acropolis before finally heading east on the AT back to the car. [Examining the map more closely after arriving home, it occurred to me that we probably missed another vista on the Acropolis trail overlooking Culvers Lake, just below an antenna shack at the top of the ridge. Oh well. Next time, I suppose.] Total distance hiked today was 6.6 miles in 4 hours. (Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)
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In the parking lot |
The AT! |
[Photo by Laura] |
Gorgeous lichen |
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Heading west on AT |
Poison ivy and AT blaze |
At Route 206 crossing |
Amazing carved totem |
Kittatinny Lake beach |
The lane along the lake |
Houses on Kittatinny Lake |
Interesting house |
Beautiful log cabin |
Large stump |
Creek at western tip of lake |
Fire gate for woods road |
Log lichen |
Huge tree in middle of road |
Heading west |
Mushrooms |
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Moss |
Beech color |
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Red Maple blaze |
View of cottages on lake |
Contemplating the ridge |
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Dew drops |
Lichen |
Descending on ... |
... Red Maple trail |
Colors on Red Maple |
Boundary wall |
Creek crossing |
[Photo by Laura] |
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Climbing Jacob's Ladder |
Almost at the top |
Dan below [Photo by Laura] |
End of Jacob's Ladder |
On the AT |
Fire damage |
Partial views NW |
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View of Normanook |
Unobstructed ... |
... views of ... |
... Culvers Lake |
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Critter tracks |
View east |
Zoom to houses on Culvers Lake |
Whaleback |
Culvers Lake |
View north |
Lake Owassa |
View west |
View towards PA |
Route 206 |
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Checking email |
Turkey vulture |
Antenna shack on Acropolis trail |
Kittatinny Lake from ridge |
Kittatinny Lake |
View west from Acropolis trail |
Normanook Mountain |
Culvers Lake |
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Normanook Lookout Tower |
Cairn view NW |
[Photo by Laura] |
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Culvers Lake |
Descending on Acropolis trail |
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Telephone line cut |
Blooms over Culvers Lake |
Various ... |
... views ... |
... of Culvers Lake ... |
... from the AT |
Rocky AT |
Nice descent |
A very rocky AT |
"You are in Bear Country!" |
Pines |
We descended from the mountain in back |
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Gorgeous pines |
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Bone |
Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |