Last week we hiked the AT east of Culvers Gap. This week we returned to the same trailhead (at the large parking area on Route 636) to hike west
of the gap. The NYNJTC map #17 had four viewpoints marked on the 4-mile portion we hiked to the intersection with the Shay Trail at the Brink Road lean-to.
But the weather didn't cooperate, and we spent 4 hours on the ridge in fog! We caught a couple of views of Culvers Lake near the beginning,
as we climbed the ridge. But once on the ridge, nothing. However, the fog created a gorgeous ethereal sense to the entire experience and it turned out
to be a beautiful hike. And ... we saw our first bald eagle! It was in flight over Culvers Lake. When I hurriedly aimed my camera and zoomed in, I
thought I was photographing some sort of water bird -- but after zooming into the image once the photo was taken, it was clearly a bald eagle. And I
caught it just before a near-by branch would have obstructed it! See photo 61 (first photo in the next to last row).
This 8-mile hike took us about 4.5 hours. The only somewhat challenging part was the steady uphill climb to the ridge near the beginning, west of Route 636. (Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)
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We're heading to Georgia today |
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Beautiful pines near Route 636 |
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Beginning of climb west of Rt. 636 crossing |
Obstructed view of Culvers Lake |
Steady climb to ridge |
Photographer caught! [photo by Laura] |
Culvers Lake |
Reaching the fog |
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Signs of industry? |
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Cairn in the midst |
Laura loves cairns |
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There should be a view here |
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An ethereal forest |
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There should be a view here too |
They're hatching |
Yummy |
Not so yummy |
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Spring blooms |
Blueberry fields |
Woodpecker motel |
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Water drops |
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Apparently a recent fire ... |
... left this bare |
The smell of burnt leaves ... |
... was strong here |
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He sang to us during lunch |
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Back to Culvers Lake |
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Route 206 |
Houses on the lake |
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Bald eagle! |
Fishing on the lake |
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Descending |
Leaf parasites |
Poison ivy |
Gorilla in the mist [photo by Laura] |
Back to the pines |
Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |