Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Delaware Water Gap NRA, PA - McDade Trail from Riverview to 2.5 Mile Post


ABOUT THE PARK:
McDade Recreation Trail - National Park Service

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.04962, -75.02450
Parking right at the trail crossing.

TRAIL MAP:
Kittatinny Trails Map #120 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference



HIKE DISTANCE:  3.8 miles (1.9 miles each way)
Hiked together with Hidden Lake - 2 miles (about a 3 mile drive away)

THE HIKE:
We headed towards Smithfield and turned around at the 2.5 mile marker.  Another quarter of a mile and dogs aren't allowed from there to Hialeah.
Several side trails lead to views of the Delaware River.
She wouldn't eat her favorite chicken jerky on the last hike so she wasn't feeling well with her bum leg.  She snarfed it right down today.
Not pleased that I tied her up to go down a short side trail to take pictures.
Turtle Beach on the other side of the Delaware River.
Our turn around point.
She wore a hole in her bootie from dragging her toes.  This is why one should always carry duct tape.
Break time.
Taking a little power nap before we finish.
The trail was starting to get busy.
Turtles in the Delaware River.
Getting tired.  I had wanted to turn around at the 3-mile marker but it was missing so we ended up going a mile farther than planned.
Back at the car.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, PA - Hidden Lake


ABOUT THE PARK:
Hidden Lake Trail - National Park Service

DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.05092, -75.05398
There are a couple of other lots but this is the largest with a restroom.


TRAIL MAP:
Kittatinny Trails Map #120 - New York New Jersey Trail Conference


HIKE DISTANCE:  2 miles
Hiked together with McDade Trail - 3.8 miles (about a 3 mile drive away)

THE HIKE:
There is a trail to the right of the restrooms that goes downhill to the Hidden Lake Trail.
It's Shawnee's first hike with her new wheels.
A cold front had finally arrived and it was a gorgeous drive in but Hidden Lake was hidden in a cloud during the first part of the hike.
I had thought this was a woods road going around the lake but I was wrong.  I was shooting for an easier trail for Shawnee's first time out but we made it around.
This is what I kind of had in mind but this was only a short stretch.
She is learning that the wheelchair can go just about anywhere.
Oops.  What used to be an asset is now an obstacle.
But we found a way.
Yikes!  Bigger obstacle.
By lifting on her harness handle I was able to get up up and down safely.
She toes under and drags her right paw sometimes so I brought a bootie along.  It was just a disposable one I had but she will be needing something sturdier.
That cloud is finally starting to burn off.
This is where her wheelchair came from.  It is the one her veterinary chiropractor highly recommended as it provides full range of motion where others don't.
A dog can even go into the water with a wheelchair.
The chipmunk sat there for the longest time staring at Shawnee.  He had probably never seen such a thing!
When we returned to the car Shawnee clearly was not ready to quit yet so we drove on to the next hike.