Lehigh River Gorge and Glen Onoko TR

“Paddled this weekend with a friend of mine, Bryan. Bryan and I shuttled cars, and as we did, I noticed there were no other paddlers or rafts. The river was high, at over 2,200 cfs. We entered the gorge completely alone. The current swept us downstream under the railroad bridge and to the start of the first rapid, Entrance. Usually this rapid isn't much of a problem; we've never swam or even rolled here, but this was different. As we peered at the horizon line, there were huge wave trains of up to 4-5 feet, splashing water in the air. I knew we were in for it. Bryan peered back and said incredulously, Is this No Way Out?- the hardest rapid on the upper Lehigh. We entered the huge waves and I really had to concentrate, picking lines and reading for holes.

I knew Bryan was in trouble as he got spun sideways and flipped in a hole; his two roll attempts failed and he swam through the big rapid. He appeared ok, so I began to go after his boat, while still negotiating the rapid. At one point his boat did a bow stall in a hole. I knew swimming wasn't an option for me, or his boat would be lost. I made it through the rapid and tracked his boat, but the pools were swift with no eddies and his boat was very heavy. I finally got it to shore when I saw two other paddlers on the opposite shore, they yelled to me that Bryan was coming, I hoped to paddle the rest of the river with them, but they were bailing out of the gorge.

Then it hit me- we were about the enter the gorge with big water completely alone- no rafters, no other paddlers- no one. If we got in trouble, it could be serious. We simply did not have the safety for this trip- a lost boat or paddle was a genuine possibility. This was a powerful river and the Lehigh's rapids are long. I wasn't afraid of the rapids, but with no other paddlers or rafters, it was too much risk. So I decided we had to bail; we ferried across the river and hiked a mile out.

So we drove to Jim Thorpe to eat and hiked the spectacular Glen Onoko Falls trail.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/562874441VCkJyH?vhost=outdoors”

“nice pics and cool trip report!

Looking forward to the MST this weekend.

I hear Pennsy is cooking salmon tortalini for everyone.”

“It might be chicken, not salmon. I hiked with Pennsy yesterday. Jmitch wont go hungry next weekend.”

“No one can get away from the troll threads, so you'll just have to contend with me being the solitary reader and, thusly have to suffer the slings and arrows of my critique.

The first sentence ends with the word "Bryan", immediately followed by the first word in the second sentence, also "Bryan". "Bryan-Bryan", it just don't look right (yes, I know that I just posted 3 "Bryan's" row. It's a joke. I know I'm dumb, but not MarkO dumb).

"The river was high at over 2200cfs" Assuming that "cfs" means cubic feet per second. "at" seems to be the word that screwed you. "cfs" isn't a term to correctly describe how "high" something is but rather how rapid. However, for this audience it will probably do.

"We entered the gorge completely alone" I suppose "we" could technically be completely alone if they were, say, joined at the hip. Were you? I might be correct this. How the hell would I know? Just looked weird is all...:)

I appreciate you indulging me on your thread. I got to smoking some strange stuff and started believing I was Crash Bang and just had to criticize someone's grammar and sentence structure.

Now back to our regularly scheduled troll.
last edited: 3/23/08 5:39:33 PM”

“Thank you jmitch. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your report and looking at the pics. Jim Thorpe is one of my fav places to spend a day.”

“Nice pics and good call on the bail.

Lovely day to be out.”

“Nice report and pictures. Sounds like a good decision to bail out under those conditions.”

“Nice! Glen Onoko is a sweet spot.

I hear Pennsy is cooking salmon tortalini for everyone.”
EarthNsky

Ha! That's how bad rumors get started. I said I would feed Mitch, and that's mostly out of pity. ;o)
and it will probably be chicken, not salmon.”

“Cool! Is this in the US?”

“jmitch will either eatfor dinner, a: a tuna pouch or b: a bagel.

This place is located near Mauch Chunk, PA, also known as Jim Thorpe, PA.
last edited: 3/24/08 4:40:44 PM”

“Gojo-

In PA, near Jim Thorpe. Very cool town. Lehigh River Gorge is beautiful, as is Glen Onoko.”

“nice pictures. I need a waterfall hike. And smart move on bailing out of the river (pun intended).”