The section hike was about 9 miles. We did the first 3 miles on Saturday after visiting the Lakota Wolf Preserve & Brook Hollow Winery (post
here). We set up camp for the night along the AT & it was quite cold, like 18 degrees cold + a pretty fierce wind + it snowed! This was my first experience with winter camping & I'm really glad I did it. We woke up the next morning & hiked the remaining 6 miles to the Mohican Outdoor Center where we had reserved lodging at the Blueberry Hill Cabin for Sunday night. The journey along the AT was beautiful. We passed Sunfish Pond, a glacial lake, & much of the hike followed the Delaware River so there were a lot of beautiful vistas. Below is our journey...
View from a ridge of the Delaware River.
A field of rock towers made by hikers along the AT, this was really cool to see both for its beauty & how it links so many people...we all added a rock.
Our tents, which we set up right off the trail. This picture is from Sunday morning because by the time we arrived Saturday night it was already dark. We set up with our headlamps, cooked some food, & then got as cozy as possible in our tents. *Tip: We boiled water before we got in our tents as well & each filled a water bottle/thermos which went in our sleeping bags with us & really radiated heat throughout the night. Mine was still warm enough to brew tea in in the morning. I have
this thermos, which I absolutely love. I really wasn't cold in the tent, the worst part for me was when I stood still outside & my feet were the first to get really cold, but as soon as you start moving you feel great. Jon & I got up with the sun & both couldn't sleep anymore so we decided to get a head start with packing our packs back up. We intended to wait for our friends to get up too, but after we were finished packing it was just too cold to wait around standing still, so we headed out first at about 7:30 letting them know we'd see them at the cabin. This was not something we planned, but I am grateful for the time Jon & I got to spend alone together.
More collaborative hiker nature art with rocks & driftwood at Sunfish Pond.
All bundled up, looking out at the Delaware River & beyond.
<3
Sunfish Pond, we arrived just as the sun was rising up above the tree line, it was so peaceful & beautiful & I am very grateful for these moments that activities such as this bring.
Basking in the warmth of the sun.
Sunfish Pond
Snow :)
Winter hiking is beautiful, so peaceful, & the air is so crisp & refreshing.
I love this guy...a lot
& I love how we both enjoy going on adventures like this.
Jon & I arrived at the Mohican Outdoor Center first, before our cabin was ready for check in so we hung out in the main lodge, did some reading, & got warm. I also joined the Appalachian Mountain Club, which you can do as well
here, & got this really awesome mug which they gave me as much free tea in while we waited to check in & for our friends to arrive...I had 3 cups, they warmed me right up :) Joining for the year only cost me $25 because I am under 30 & the membership supports a great cause plus you get a lot of perks & discounts.
Ironically, our friends walked up to the main lodge just as Jon & I were walking out the front because we had just been handed the key to check into the cabin. It was perfect timing. We stayed at
Blueberry Hill, one of the large group cabins that sleeps up to 16, on Sunday...it was awesome.
The cabin comes equip with an awesome fire place plus a lot of wood. Jon started the fire as soon as we got into the cabin & we kept it going all all night.
It felt really good to get all cozy in the cabin...these are my slippers.
I made simple sugar cookies, with blackberry brandy for dessert.
One of 3 bunk rooms.
Jon's pack.
The living area of the cabin. We all just hung around here all night, eating, drinking, & talking around the fire...it was perfect.
Full kitchen equip with anything & everything you could possibility need. We cooked two dinners :) + dessert.
Already longing to return to this place...
& have more weekends like this.
