Category: Trips around Lehigh

On April 17th, Sat, a group of 20 drove into the Pocono Mountains, arriving in Jim Thorpe, ‘the Switzerland of Pennsylvania’. An almost full parking lot indicated it was a busy day for the town. We signed the waivers, got the tickets, and waited for the train to come.

The train made a tortuous trip along the Lehigh River for about 1 hr. We enjoyed the view of the railroad and the river. There were fishermen, people in rafting, kayaks, hikers who were about to start on the trail. Big warm waves from them.

Arriving at White Haven where we got the bikes and started the 25-mi journey. Here is a group photo after the train ride:

Beginning on the road. The weather changed from time to time, sometimes drizzling a bit, sometimes cloudy, others with a bit of sun.

Nature Mother embraces us with scenic views along the ride. Many small beautiful waterfalls are scattered.

25 miles is definitely not an easy journey, just like grad school. But we made it in groups!

Some of us stayed for dinner at downtown Jim Thorpe:

Everyone finished the 25-mi biking successfully, even though the ache and pain on bodies might last a few days more. We celebrated our persistence and solidity during the journey:)

 

Trip leader: VamC, Artemiza, Luke, Shasha

Photos: by a number of attendees

Writing: Shasha

 

On April 4th, 2021, we made a kayaking journal on Delaware and Lehigh Canal Trail. The trip was brought together by LU Outing Club, PSP, and GSOC. We had eleven people in the group and used five kayaks. The goal was to pick up trash from the waterway so that those plastics will not be eaten by fish and other wild animals.

The first step was to inflate the kayaks. Even though new to kayaks, everyone quickly figured out efficient ways of inflating them. Team members helped each other out.

Carrying the boats to the launch point along the canal:

Trash picking started! It took each team a while to figure out the maneuvering of the boats. Some teams made many circles on the canal. Teams picked up shoes, beer cans, plastic bottles from the waterway. So much of them should not be in the canal at all!

A group picture on the canal:

The trip was wrapped up earlier than expected due to the trail as a popular destination in the trout season. This cleanup act is a small step of our organization towards the “Leave No Trace” (LNT) principle. The trail should only be cleaner after your visits. While we are outdoor lovers and enjoy being on outing trips, we are also committed to keeping nature clean and smiling 🙂

Video: Mahsa

Photo, writing: Shasha

Trip leader: Shasha & Natasha

We started from alumini building at 8:45 AM and after 45 minutes’ drive we reached to Kittatinny point and parked there. To our surprise it was chilly on a bright sunny day. Luke, VamC and Shasha were leading the group to RED DOT trail.

After hiking for some time, we took a break to enjoy this beautiful view. It started to get warm and nice by this time.

After quite a rocky and challenging ascend, we stopped to take a water/ snack break. We found a place outside the walking trail and cleaned after ourselves. It was a good bonding moment for everyone to meet and talk with fellow grads.

We reached to this viewpoint after 25-30 minutes of hiking after water break.

A few people were exploring this beautiful viewpoint, which can be seen after walking for a few more minutes of walking from the first viewpoint. It was a challenging descend and climb, but totally worth it for the view.

By the time we took another water break on our way down, everyone got bonded really well which is apparent from this picture.

Finally, when we managed to get down the hill, we found a beautiful stream forming a small water fall. Everyone had a good time by the small canal 🙂

And around 2:45 PM, everyone started heading back to Lehigh university feeling accomplished for finishing the hike and happy for making new friends!

Post & Trip leader: VamC

Pictures:  Shasha, Indranil, Sinchan, Jacky, VamC

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a very warm day on Mar 11th. A Thursday afternoon at 4 PM, we gathered before the Alumni building and headed to Bear Creek Ski Resort, located about 40 min drive away. Spring is right around the corner, chasing away the winter. But hold on for a minute, let’s experience the last few days of snow season and learn how to ski!

We had a lady taking photos for us before we trial and fell on the snow. Look how handsome everyone was! Behind us is the beginner’s slope, Bear’s Carpet.

The ski resort was quiete yet still quite some people were there (just not around those dining tables):

First thing first, we got the lift ticket and picked up the rentals. We went through how to select the right size boot, how to put it on, what buckles are the most important while others are minor. In the picture, Shasha was making sure Sinchan’s helmet was correctly put on. In the background, there are the ski poles.

Going out of the rental pickup place, before heading to the slopes, we had a dry run training on how to put the binders on and off, how to carry the binders, as well as the code on the slope: people in front of you have the right of the way (which means it is your responsibility not to hit the person in front of you, if you cannot control it, please fall down :). Members were excited about trying out ski!

Okay, real time. We went through ways to slow, stop, make turns, how to put on binders on the slope. Then everyone was free to try out by himself! Of course we fell and had discussions with members on the trip.

Finally we rode the lift to go to the top of mountain and skiied down. Hilarious but everyone made it and some even multiple times! Ski is not that difficult it turns out. Next snow season we hope more people will join us to learn to ski and just enjoy the fun of it!

 

Photos: VamC, Sinchan, Indranil, Shasha

Writing & trip leader: Shasha

 

The snow in recent two days added further depth to the soft white blanket on the ground. This does not stop us from going out and making this snow expedition. The destination is the Delaware and Lehigh Trail Bethlehem section, accompanied by Monocacy Creek, canal, view of Steelstacks.

At 10:00 AM on this sunny Saturday morning, we gathered at FML. We walked to the basketball court on the sand island. The view on the bridge was amazing, as the railroad and sand island were covered in snow. Sky was crystal blue.

We started the hike here from the basketball court:

Yes, there is a puppy, Marley, joining us. The trail was clearly visible, with passionate bikers already marked trails for us.

We went to check the ice thickness in the canal near the bank. It was durable but not worth further exploring. Marley walked on the ice and snow above the canal without problem.

We had some photos individually and in group. Walking in the snow is not as easy as imagined, as every step you stepped down might be shallow or deep, depending on how sturdy the snow in this place was. It was near the end of the trip, which is the other bridge near the casino, everyone was feeling something in their legs and knees.

In conversations, we marched back to campus through the greenway. It was a really good workout, good to get to know people, and enjoy the beautiful gift of the nature!

Writing, photography & trip leader: Shasha

Trip co-leader: Artemiza

 

Date: 2020-10-04, Sunday

It was a beautiful sunny Sunday morning. We started from the parking lot near Hellertown Historical Society, jumped onto the trail, and had a back-and-out hike toward Upper Saucon Township. This trail is embeded in dense forest, and accompanied by views of golf club, Saucon creek, beautiful lovely mansions. A favorite spot for residents nearby to bike and jog. The Upper Saucon Township has many sports facilities and is usually populated with kids and families in late afternoon and on weekends.

We enjoyed the sunshine and had lots of conversations on the road.

Lots of leaves were fallen and the ground was very colorful.

Bashir taught us how to pick up good walnuts and open them near water. No wonder squirrels like those nuts so much. The Saucon Rail Trail is covered with lots of walnut trees.

Draft: Shasha Feng
Photo: Shasha Feng

Date: 2020-09-26, Saturday

Time lapses in a blink of an eye. Soon the first month of a brand new semester has passed, with mounting course works, research tasks, and teaching loads. We came out to disc golf course in the South Mountains, enjoyed a picnic there, and learned some useful tricks about knot making.

Making the way to disc-golf course

So how did we make it to the picnic place, a hidden gem on the backside of Lehigh University campus? Of course, we are hikers! We took the bus (TapRide on weekends) from lower campus to the overlook place near a Greek dormitory. Starting from there, we hiked along the trail surrounding Sayre Field and then near South Mountain, finally arriving at the picnic place. Note that this trail is also pretty popular with mountain bikers. We picked up some sticks on the way, as pedagogical tools for later knot making lessons.

Filling up stomaches with rolls and wraps

We sat down and had some rolls and wraps bought from Costco. We introduced ourselves to each other, getting to know people and making new friends there. It was pretty cool weather. Lots of bugs, but glad that we brought bug spray there. After the brief lunch, some members also started to play discs like freebies.

Surviving skills in wilderness: knot making

Various forms of knots are used in daily outdoor setting. They can be useful for saving people’s lives, can give more peace of mind when camping in the back country, and they are also good friends of rocker climers. Artemiza, an avid fan of rock climbing, taught us 5 forms of knots. We gave out a rope of 2 meters to everyone. Members had lots of struggles learning the new knotting methods. After overcoming the initial learning curve, many who mastered a knot started to teach fellow members how to make them. Time passed without much notice. After 1.5 hr, everyone’s brain has a better sense of topology.

Concluding remarks

Arte said, ‘you can keep this knot in your backpack, it can save you lots of trouble in different situations’. We hope this rope, the knotting, and many future techniques and events we bring together can be valuable items in graduate students’ life, helping them go further and longer.

Drafting: Shasha Feng
Photo: Shasha Feng and Artemiza Martinez