The section of Appalachian Trail between Little and Lehigh Gap is one that I hike often throughout the year. I decided I was going to hike a loop that was around eight miles and I called up Stephen Kloiber to see if he wanted to go along. He met me at the parking lot and the above photo is what we found when we arrived. Since this was on Gamelands, I called a state employee with the DCNR who has a direct contact to the Game Commission's local Wildlife Conservation Officer. He informed the WCO, who was already aware that the items were there. Both the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission do investigate illegal dumps like this, so this pile is not something I would deal with. I have found their investigations can take a long time, but individuals do get prosecuted for these actions. If you ever come across someone who is illegally dumping items please contact law enforcement immediately.
The parking area was the trashiest part of the hike. The trailsides had a few items, but for the most part we didn't find all that much. The top of the mountain yielded amazing views. This is looking towards the Carbon County side.
In a few of the puddles along the trail we found Springtails. Springtails, also called Collembola, have been in several of my posts. This particular species is often referred to as Snow Fleas, because they are often found in large numbers on top of snow at this time of year. An appendage to their rear gives them there name and allows them to spring up as one method of moving around. They also have appendages that allow them to walk around. Springtails in general a common. They inhabit leaf litter and topsoil and most people don't even know they exist.
Remnants of an old forest still can be found standing at the top in this section. These trees died decades ago from the deposition of heavy metals created by a zinc smelting facility in the nearby city of Palmerton. Restoration efforts have helped bring new life to the mountain top and slowly this once desolate landscape is sprouting new life.
Fences now restrict access to large sections of the mountain top. This is part of the restoration effort and keeps deer from browsing on young trees that are sprouting up. I have been going to this site for over fifteen years. When I first started hiking this area there were hardly any trees, no grasses and vast areas were just exposed rocks. Even the soil has washed away. Things are much different now and every year the mountain gets a little greener.
We made a quick stop by a vernal pond that is off one of the trails. In the spring and summer this pond will act as a breeding site for several species of amphibians. Vernal ponds/pools fill up with snow and rainfall in the winter and spring and by mid to late summer are usually dry. This means predatory animals like fish are not around, giving the amphibian offspring a better chance at survival. This does not mean there are no predators. There are many insect species that inhabit vernal areas that do feed on amphibians and there larvae, certain reptile species will visit these ponds for a quick bite to eat and too will some bird species like the Barred Owl. So vernal pools are the safer option for breeding amphibians, but still come with an assortment of hazards for them.
Throughout the entirety of the eight miles I don't think we came across any birds other than a couple of Juncos and a Turkey Vulture. This will change in spring as migratory birds return and start to nest. I am looking forward to the Warbler's return.
See my most updated posts on Facebook: Taking Out the Trash in Eastern PA
No comments:
Post a Comment