by Jeff Mitchell, KTA Board of Directors
I recently did a 5 mile hike at the impressive Lehigh Gap Nature Center on the AT and the North Trail. The AT will be re-routed in the future to take advantage of the non-stop views from mountaintop meadows and alpine-like ridgelines. Once completed, it will be a stunning stretch of trail.
The Lehigh Gap was once an eyesore, a moonscape where all the trees died from air pollution caused by zinc smelting. Thanks to intensive rehabilitation efforts, the gap is recovering with vast meadows, wildflowers, and new tree growth. The change over the last ten years is hard to believe. The gap is also now an outdoor recreation destination. On the day we hiked, the place was filled with people hiking, riding their bikes, or bird watching (a bald eagle also flew over our heads). The warm, sunny weather helped, I'm sure.
Read Jeff's hike report here: KTA and the AT: A Hike at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center