Lehigh County High Point Trip Report

Date: April 27, 2002
Author: Ron Tagliapietra

I see why these 2 spots were among Mike's favorites in PA. Both are hikes of 1.5 - 2 miles each way, and both are nice hikes to boulder piles with great views. Neither is right on the trail, so you will have both spots to yourself, but neither requires bushwhacking through sticker bushes and both are within sight of the Appalachian Trail. However, the approach to the western spot in Mike's report is now chained and posted. However, an elderly gentleman (who apparently lives in the house next to the barn) said that the poster doesn't have the right to post it and offered me to leave my car at his house and hike in. This adds only 0.2 mile to the hike described by Mike. It is also important to follow the blue blazes to the white-blazed AT.

For the eastern spot, I was glad to have my hand level with me. From Lehigh Furnace, I took Ashfield Road to its end at an unsigned road. A right turn on this road led up to Lehigh Furnace Gap, where the hike begins. In the light of the many faint trails after the county line marker and "rocky outcrop," I decided to stay on the AT and look for the boulder field. It soon became obvious, and I began the off-trail boulder hopping. When I reached a cairn, I supposed I was at the top, but the hand level showed me that I was lower than another spot which involved only a couple minutes of boulder hopping farther east.