BACK IN ACTION

9TH HIKE: GLEN ONOKO RUN

Facts

Location: Jim Thorpe, PA

Park: Lehigh Gorge State Park

Trail: Glen Onoko Run Falls & Lehigh Gorge Trail

Elevation: 1200 ft?

Date: 7/21/11

Adventure

As many of you know I had to take a month of from my hiking adventures due to surgery. I did not give up completely, I have been to Ridley Creek several times in the last month and even my favorite past time, Purgatory Chasm, on the fourth of July. Last Sunday (7/17/11) I participated in the Philadelphia Mud Run and that was the first day I felt like myself again, energy fully restored. In order to achieve my goal from here on out I will have to hike new locations at least twice a week. Wish me luck folks I think I can swing it!

Glen Onoko Run Falls

The plan was to hike Glen Onoko Run on Thursday with my friend Henry, but he had an interview so I decided to go it alone. After packing a PBJ, a slice spinach & tomato pizza, a fresh picked plum from Linvilla Orchards, crackers and granola bars in the cooler with extra water I drove off. I filled up my tank and grabbed a breakfast sandwich at Dunkin Donuts. I had never been to Jim Thorpe before and I have to say I love the town. It's a cute little town, which advertises adventure, history, and hiking so basically I could move there. I also got to drive by the Harry Packer Mansion where Disney got the idea for the Haunted Mansion. I drove by the Lehigh Gorge State Park entrance per usual and stopped at the Jim Thorpe River Adventures to ask for directions. I had literally missed the entrance by 20 feet; the sign was small and hidden. I decided that the hike wouldn't take long so I grabbed the pizza and a water bottle and took off. The hike up the fall was crazy steep. It was the first time I hiked something with a difficult rating on it and thought, "yeah this could be challenging." The whole trip was up the falls with rocks and landslides. It made me happy I came alone because I could go at my own pace and not worry about it being tough on others.

Time to cool off!

I must have stopped every 5 minutes to dunk my head, face, hands, legs, etc in the falls. Thankfully I did not need to pull out the inhaler, but I could feel my heart racing the whole way up. The view on top of the falls of the gorge was spectacular. I was constantly stopping to take in each vista and cool down so I didn't get heat stroke. I sat at the top eating pizza and guzzling water. I decided I wanted to walk along the gorge trail and look down at the water. I walked deep into the woods at the top and found a meadow. After 15 minutes of walking in direct sunlight with no water anywhere in sight I decided to turn around and begin my descent down the falls. At the very top of the falls it was vacant. There were no hikers anywhere to be found. Being daring and sweating profusely I decided to go bathe in the falls, but I had no swimsuit. I took off my clothes and hung them on a nearby tree and climbed into the falls in my bra & underwear. It was both exhilarating and liberating. I was so happy to immerse myself in the water and cool my whole body off. I put my clothes back on continued to walk down the trail. I met a man on my travels downhill who was a local and shared the secrets of where to hike and different vistas I could explore from the Lehigh gorge trail. I also stopped to talk to a mom and her small child who told me about how when she was younger she hiked the trail and came across a bear so she never finished. As most of you know I'm still scared if running into a bear. I have no form of protection on the trail; I think the bear might win!

Still Climbing

When I got back to the bottom of the trail I ran to the car to keep from getting Hangry. I bit into a luscious plum and let the juices drip everywhere. It was amazing! Once I cooled off in the AC I explored the town of Jim Thorpe a bit and got gas to make it home. I will definitely be going back to Jim Thrope to hike the gorge and probably Glen Onoko run again at some point. It was more difficult than Rickett's Glen and almost as fun too!