Sunday, March 5, 2017

Delaware Water Gap NRA, PA - Mount Minsi from Tott's Gap

There was a Mount Minsi sign in 2010 on a tree, apparently the tree fell down so that trunk section remained in 2016.  In 2017, sign is nowhere to be found.

ABOUT THE PARK:
Delaware Water Gap NRA - National Park Service

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 40.95078, -75.16393
Parking on Tott's Gap Hill Road.

TRAIL MAP:
NY/NJ Trail Conference - Kittatinny Trails Map #120
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HIKE DISTANCE:  5.6 miles

THE HIKE:
This was Shawnee's Sweet Sixteen Birthday Hike!  She did this hike previously in 2010, 2011 and 2016 but from the opposite direction coming up the Appalachian Trail.  That is now much too difficult (impossible, actually) for her so we came in the back way, through Tott's Gap.
From the parking lot at the end of Tott's Gap Hill Road ...
... a gravel service road leads up to the top.
At the intersection where the service road goes left, if you continue straight you run into the Appalachian Trail but this was too rocky for the wheelchair so we backtracked to the service road.  We'd meet up with the AT farther along.
We had come up from the parking lot straight ahead, now turning right on the service road (left turn coming up).
WVPO-FM Stroudsburg radio tower along the service road.
Some winter views.
A right at the gas pipeline cut leads to ...
... where the AT crosses over at a view.
We backtracked to the service road to continue on where it becomes a nice grassy woods road along the ridge.
And that would be where I found my balloon for this hike.  But sadly, this did not end well for my balloon collection.  I decided to leave the balloon along side the woods road with a rock on it so it would not blow away and my annoying water bottle that kept falling out of my backpack (because the birthday cake was taking up too much space) with the intention of picking it all up on the way back.  But upon our return, someone had placed my water bottle on a rock and had taken my balloon!  I mean, nice that someone was picking up litter but that was not litter, that was my balloon!  At least I have a picture of it.
A little farther along is a cairn where the AT comes in and joins the woods road for the rest of the way to the summit of Mount Minsi.
There are a couple of side trails to the right where there are views.
The AT continues on along the woods road.  This is actually one of my favorite trails - smooth and easy, very peaceful and winter views.
The Delaware River eventually comes into view on the right.
And then a side trail ...
... to the overlook at the summit of Mount Minsi.
Let's get this pawty started!
The cake was a huge hit.  It was made with ground chicken, carrots, broccoli, oats and oil with sweet potato and mozzarella frosting.
My son, the only human carnivore among us, tasted it and said it was gross.  He actually gagged. 
Then a group of college students came by and asked about our birthday party.  When I told them it was Shawnee's 16th, they said that this was the highlight of their hike and nothing else was going to top it.
All of us on Mount Minsi.
Some historical shot taken at the exact same place.
I-80 along the Delaware River
It was only 1/4 mile to the Mount Tammany overlook so we stashed Shawnee's wheelchair and she went without it since this portion of trail was not wheelchair-friendly at all.
Mount Tammany from Mount Minsi
Past pictures taken in the same place.
Heading back.
Climbing back up was more difficult so Shawnee needed more assistance.
Thankfully nobody packed out these balloons with the wheelchair!
Once in her wheels, she started heading back towards Mount Tammany.  Wrong way!
Now we are back on track.
This is what it looks like when Shawnee runs you over with her wheels.
Keeping straight where the AT leaves to the left.
Our college friends heading in the opposite direction after giving Shawnee another round of birthday wishes.
Looking west into the gas pipeline cut.
Back down the service road.

Just for fun, Sebastian and Shawnee took turns wearing the Pet's Eye View camera.  The hike from a dog's perspective:
Photo by Sebastian
Photo by Sebastian
Photo by Sebastian
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee
Photo by Shawnee

26 comments:

  1. Happy Sweet 16 to Shawnee!!!! Love the balloons, and the shots of the pups with cake & party hats are priceless. So glad to see her still cruisin' along.

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  2. Happy Birthday Shawnee!! You go girl :)

    Love,
    Eddie W.

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  3. Happy Sweet Sixteen, Shawnee! Love the party hats. What a great picnic-party...and cake, too. At least your balloons weren't ones Mom had to go rescue off the trail. Sorry about the one that got away, though. It's no doubt that hiking has kept you young at heart with a spirit to match. You're my role model.
    Love, Linda

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  4. One of the best blog posts ever, and very touching. Happy birthday to Shawnee and congratulations to you for being such a good, loving pet mom.

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  5. Happy Birthday Shawnee!, really like the historical photos from the same spot and cool photos from Shawne's collar camera!

    Brian

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  6. This made me smile from ear to ear! What a wonderful way to celebrate

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  7. What a perfect place to celebrate Shawnee's Gotcha Day! Happy 16! I loved the historical photos.

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    1. Thanks, Nancy! Yes, one of those difficult hikes that has an easy alternate way. Glad I saved it for this occasion!

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  8. I loved, loved, loved these shots! So happy that Shawnee got a special cake and balloons for her 16th Birthday! Happy Birthday Shawnee! many, many more! I liked the historic photos and the photos that the dogs took too! That is quite a steep hike. That is one of the first hikes I'd ever been on in the early 90s and I was pretrified. I haven't been back there since. Thanks for sharing! Joanne from NJ

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    1. Thanks, Joanne! And now that you know the easy way up, you can do it again!

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  9. A belated Happy Birthday to Shawnee. Her great disposition comes through in the photos of her. As usual I enjoyed the photos and the captions.
    Bill from Clifton

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Bill! Your birthday wishes might not be belated at all. Shawnee was about 4 months old when I got her from the shelter so her birthday is approximately now, give or take a week.

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  10. Enjoy following your hikes. What type of camera do you use for the bird closeups?

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    1. Thanks, Walter! I use a Canon PowerShot SX60 HS with 65x zoom.

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  11. Happy 16th to Shawnee-always love to see her!

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  12. Happy Birthday Shawnee! That is amazing, you're one well taken care of part of your family! Good luck to you, you and your - master? - outhike us by miles. I thought we hike a lot, but I don't think we come close to what you accomplish.
    Maybe one of these days we'll meet you on the trail, although we're mostly hiking in Harriman.

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    1. Thanks, Ruth. Probably won't be running into you in Harriman since those trails are too difficult for Shawnee now. You might run into me but then I doubt you would recognize me without Shawnee!

      Daniela

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