Thanks to my friend Steve Smith, I was introduced to a very
pleasant hike that was totally new to me.
On 07-May, I accompanied Steve on a trek that began at the Rt. 113
trailhead for the Haystack Notch Trail.
Our trek took us for several miles along the Haystack Notch Trail, and
we did an off-trail bushwhack to some beaver ponds and meadows.
The route that Steve and I followed would be inappropriate
for this blog since "2Small 2B Big" is a collection of
smaller hikes. However, doing a scaled
down version of this trek could provide a very rewarding experience. A smaller adaptation would involve hiking along the trail for a shorter distance
than Steve and I did. And, it would be totally unnecessary to do an
off-trail bushwhack.
This trail has mostly easy grades with good footing. However, there are number of brook crossings,
some of which might be difficult to negotiate at times of high water. You also need to be aware that this trail is
only lightly used, and it can be more difficult to follow than more popular trails that are well trodden. It should also be mentioned that trail blazing is sparse.
A reasonable destination for a short hike might be to simply
amble for 1.3 miles to the boundary of the Caribou-Speckled Mountain
Wilderness. Or you might opt to extend
the hike beyond the wilderness boundary to the height-of-land within the
Haystack Notch. This would involve
hiking for another 0.8 mile, as well as climbing a grade that is moderately
more steep than the lower end of the trail.
On this extended portion of the hike you would catch some glimpses
through the trees of the impressive cliffs on the south end of Haystack
Mountain.
And so, with that introduction, shown below are a
series of photos that I took on my hike with Steve.
During a Springtime hike, you stand a good chance of seeing things
similar to what is shown in these snapshots.
The only exceptions would be the last two photos which were taken on the
bushwhack portion of our adventure.
These photos are identified as "off-trail", and include a view of the ledges on the eastern side of
Caribou Mountain, and a view overlooking a beaver pond.
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| Trailhead sign on Rt. 113 for the Haystack Notch Trail |
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| One of several picturesque brook scenes along Haystack Notch Trail |
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| Sign at boundary of Caribou-Speckled Mountain Wilderness |
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| Through the trees view of some of impressive cliffs on south end of Haystack Mountain |
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| Steve admiring one of many large hardwoods (some might be 150+ years old) |
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| A patch of False Hellebore (a.k.a. Indian Poke) |
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| Wildflower known as Dutchman's Breeches |
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| Wildflower known as Spring Beauty |
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| Red Trillium with a bit of pollen spillage showing |
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| Painted Trillium (with water sprinkled on it as a photo experiment) |
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| Off-Trail view of ledges on the eastern side of Caribou Mountain |
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| Off-Trail view of one of the beaver ponds we visited |
I would encourage you to visit Steve Smiths blog
(click HERE) to see additional photos, and more narrative about this trek.
~ THE END ~
What a sweet spot. Love the flowers. Isn't spring great with these flowers popping all over the trail? What would be the drive time for Whitefield? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Ann,
DeleteFirst of all, thank you for posting your comments.
Regarding the drive time from Whitefield to the trailhead for the Haystack Notch Trail, it took me about an hour and 15 minutes from Bethlehem. Since Whitefield and Bethlehem are only a few miles apart, I’d suspect you could anticipate about that same amount of time.
John
John,
ReplyDeleteIt was a privilege to spend much of the day exploring this wonderful area with you. You got some great photos that really capture the feel of the place, and the many flowers we saw along the way. I'm glad you enjoyed the journey.
Steve
Steve,
DeleteAs always, your comments are greatly appreciated. Thank you!
While telling Cheri about our hike, I commented that it was a privilege to have spent time hiking with you. And so, it’s sort of astonishing to read that you felt it was a privilege to have spent time with me! Guess that makes us both privileged?! :-)
John
I'm so impressed with the number and variety of hikes in your area.
ReplyDeleteThe wildflower photos taken on this hike are just wonderful! When I lived in PA I used to visit a wildflower preserve with similar flowers. Your photos bring back memories from that time.
Do you know what type of tree that very old (and large) one is? Could it be a sycamore?
Thanks for another visual feast from the forests, John!
Hi Rita,
DeleteIt’s gratifying to read that the wildflower photos brought back some memories from your “PA-days”.
The Springtime wildflowers are (in my opinion) the best part of the season. But, the pollen and biting insects . . . not so much!
Regarding the large tree that is featured in one of my photos, I’m pretty sure it’s a yellow birch.
Thank you for reading and taking time to post a reply!
John