Into the woods

We did it! Black Diamond and back. 73 miles.

You couldn’t ask for a more perfect day this morning crossing the train tracks in Jim Thorpe heading north on the D&L trail. Following the Lehigh River, we start up a long incline that will not end until we get to our final destination. Between the river and railroad tracks the trail is soft and noisy as the tires on our bikes crunch through its base. Navigating it is challenging as its soft composition requires attentive control.

Immediately I notice that the topography is different.  Confers, particularly pines, are prevalent as we follow the trail up and around an adjacent mountain. Within a few miles after passing Glen Onoko, the space around the trail opens up and we bathe in the warm morning sun. A lone platform to disembark a train to our left looks out of place. 

We cross over the railroad tracks as they veer to the right and bridge the Lehigh River. We continue upward with the river still on our left on a very intimate trail as we enter Lehigh Gorge State Park. The air is fresh, cooled by the shade of surrounding plants and the splashing river to our right. Its gentle and consistent burble embraces the space.

This area seems very remote and I notice the lack of invasive plants. On most other parts of the trail, different ones have grabbed hold, but not here.

Another difference is the lack of animals and wildflowers along the trail. Their absence is more than compensated for by large numbers of brightly colors rubber rafts and kayaks making their way down river. We plan to follow their paths tomorrow.

The upward climb continues through a tunnel of plants with walls of rhododendrons to our left and a thick barrier of shrubs and trees grasping to a steep bank on the right making it difficult to see the river, which is far below the trail.

Water cascades to our left through tiny streams and falls. The first falls we encounter is called Luke’s Falls. The next is Buttermilk. Plastic transfer boards that are used to bring injured people up from the river are spaced every few miles along the trial. We don’t plan for their use tomorrow.

We soon enter a cathedral of rhododendrons surrounding us on both sides bejeweled with white and pink flowers. It extends for minutes as we continue our northerly ascent. 

Detouring off the trail, we make our way into White Haven for lunch around noon. We have just one more section of the D&L trail to conquer. Another detour that we must take is more hilly than we have become used to and just as we are ready to call it a day the trail appears to our left. We enter.

Surrounded by invasive buckthorn bushes, the trail entrance is grassed with a single rut for tires. I assume that we will find the trail only to ourselves but am surprised as we pass many hikers and bikers traveling in the opposite direction. Now leaving the coolness and comfort of the river, the trail traverses a mixed space of farms and forests, many of which have warnings about nearby hunters. 

But at the same time, a surfeit of wildflowers and native sedges brackets the trail. A profusion of milkweed plants are filled with butterflies flittering between them. The air is thick with their perfume. We take a rest at a small pond where a beaver lodge sits. 

The pristine Moosehead Lake appears on our left signaling that we have but a few miles remaining to complete our journey. And at my odometer reading of 154 miles, we have reached our destination of Black Diamond. Now to return.

The trip back to Jim Thorpe is delightful as our speed is nearly doubled. Our long slow climb now becomes a short quick descent. Soon we rejoin the river and its coolness washes over us. The setting sun casts long shadows on the trees we pass and the river sparkles in the late afternoon.