Sunfish Pond rests on top of Kittatinny Ridge, N.J. (Compass Points Media / flickr)
Saturday became one of those days when you just aren’t meant to do what you want to do. Ever have one of those?
I drove to the Dunnfield Creek area on the New Jersey side of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area with plans to hike up the Dunnfield Creek Trail. Once arriving at the famous Sunfish Pond, a glacial lake well-known to hikers and hippies on top of Kittatinny Ridge, I would swing back south on the Appalachian Trail. Great weather to be out, and I was going back to an area (Sunfish Pond) I hadn’t seen in years.
I wasn’t more than five steps into the hike, however, when I met a barrage of white paper nailed to signboards and a footbridge.
A forest fire that started Friday has closed several paths in Delaware Water Gap, most notably the Appalachian Trail from the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Mohican Outdoor Center to Holly Springs Trail, a section about 4.5 miles long that includes Sunfish Pond and the nearby backpacker camp site. Other closed trails include the Kaiser Trail and the Coppermine Trail from Old Mine Road to the A.T.
A sign warns hikers about a fire. (Compass Points Media / flickr)
A volunteer trail runner told me a cigarette was to blame, but a high-ranking ranger I saw later said a camp fire sparked the blaze, which reached more than 250 acres by Saturday. The ranger said the fire had consumed forest to the west side of Sunfish Pond.
There’s no word about when the trails will reopen, and for now A.T. thru hikers must go around the area by using side trails and paved roads.
For now, though, trails leading up to Mount Tammany (Red Dot and Blue Dot trails) remain open to the public.
Fortunately, there’s only a trickle of northbound and southbound hikers on the A.T., so the fire hasn’t caused mass disruptions of Appalachian Trail use. Still, if you’re heading for that area, be aware of potential detours.
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Looks like we were heading to the same place from opposite sides at the same time. I was hiking towards Sunfish Pond on Saturday from the Coppermines Trail. I got there early and was able to get through all the way to the pond – they must have closed off that section of the AT and the Kaiser and Coppermines trails right after I finished in the early afternoon. Here is my blog with pictures of the smoke at Sunfish Pond: http://gonehikin.blogspot.com/2010/08/copper-minesraccoon-ridgesunfish-pond.html
I figured a human was responsible. No fires are allowed but there are multiple charred areas, evidence of past camp fires, all over the place. So very sad.
I went to Indian Head on Mount Tammany, and about 8 college students were setting up beer pong at the viewpoint in plain view of all who came to gaze or photograph Mount Minsi, the Delaware River and the eastern Poconos. Reminded me that hiking on Saturdays during the summer does not necessarily mean escape.
250 acres due to a camp fire… so sad.
And wow, beer pong on Mt. Tammany… haven’t seen that one before. I think that beats the time we saw a woman attempting to hike up in high heels. Tammany/Sunfish is just the perfect mix of stunning views/hiking with easy access off the highway that can really turn it into a zoo sometimes.