The last time we hiked Mount Minsi was nearly five years ago when the fall foliage was peak (or perhaps
a bit post-peak). Back then we followed hike #35 ("Mount Minsi") in the book
50 Hikes in Eastern Pennsylvania (4th edition), with a few extra spurs thrown in for good measure. Today I took the day off to return with my friend
Andy and basically did the same hike in reverse, but with additional spurs including a short jaunt along the bank of Lake Lenape, a steep climb on an unmaintained trail
up to Table Rock, a spur along a nice unmaintained trail along a stream, and a complete loop around Lake Lettini which is now basically a swamp. Finally, this time I
headed further south to hit another spectacular vista on the AT overlooking the Delaware River, something I'm sure I missed last time (there are no photos from this vista).
A newer book, Hiking the Poconos: A Guide to the Area's Best Hiking Adventures (1st edition), contains the same hike as in the earlier book in Chapter 12 ("Mount Minsi"). The fall foliage was still quite minimal, but there were explosions of isolated color within the forest. Total distance was 6.3 miles in just over 3.5 hours.
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AT trail head |
We headed the other way |
Nrthern bank of ... |
... Lake Lenape |
Great Blue Heron |
Fall foliage on Lake Lenape |
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On western bank |
Above Lake Lenape |
Beautiful unmaintained ... |
... path above fire road |
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Limited view at ... |
... Table Rock |
Color on ... |
... fire road |
Lots of leaf drop |
Cascades in stream |
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Amazing leaf drop! |
Heading south |
Lake Lettini is ... |
... more a swamp |
Ruins |
Slight climb ... |
... on fire road |
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Rhododendron tunnel on AT |
Climbing to ... |
... first vista |
Mt. Tammany detail |
Andy and Tammany |
Our lunch spot |
Hikers on Mt. Tammany |
Gorgeous views ... |
... of New Jersey |
Southern slope of Tammany |
Views east to ... |
... New Jersey |
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Fall color |
Antenna shack |
Ruins on AT |
Spectacular view of Delaware |
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Zoom to Route 80 |
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New Jersey |
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AT blazes |
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The famous AT blaze |
Relentless ... |
... descent ... |
... on AT |
Steep descent |
Juniper berries |
Kayakers far below |
View from spot off AT |
Route 80 |
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Bridge over Delaware |
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View from Lookout Rock |
Kayakers on bank |
Mount Tammany |
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Cascades on AT |
Spotted slug |
White-breasted nuthatch |
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AT steps |
Back to fire road |
Fire road looking north |
Wildflowers |
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