Written By Silas Chamberlin

Somebody received a Flip camcorder for Christmas, so (for better or worse) expect more videos from here on out!

Last week, Scott and I were out on the trail to monitor construction and lay out mile markers between Slatington and Cementon.  My shaky hands and low-quality video editing don’t do justice to this section, which reminds me of the Lehigh Gorge in many ways.  People are going to love this trail.  Construction will continue through winter, so we ask that you use caution or avoid this section until it is complete.  Here’s a sneak peak of what you’ll see.

(Music by amazing Berks County band Frog Holler.)

On Saturday, hundreds of trail users, including members of the press, braved the 95 degree conditions to attend the unveiling of our directional blades, listen to project updates, and help install mile markers, all as a part of our various National Trails Day celebrations.

[Allen Sachse addresses crowd in Slatington]

This was a great opportunity to celebrate the D&L Trail and increase its visibility in our region. We were also able to highlight the connections that the D&L makes between towns, cities, and rural areas. As we installed the blades and mile markers over the last week, we had an enthusiastic response from trail users who have always wondered about the length of their daily walks and rides.

[Trail Tenders show off new milemarker]

National Trails Day was the perfect time to kick off our signage program, but the work will continue throughout the summer-so look for updates!

As part of the D&L’s National Trails Day celebration, we will begin to install mile markers along sections of the D&L Trail. Right now there are three areas where markers will be installed: Freemansburg to Bethlehem, Parryville to Weissport, and Walnutport to Lehigh Gap.

The mile markers are six-inch, maroon and white, oval metal signs that will be mounted at the top of wooden posts. The top will say “D&L Trail,” and the center will indicated the mile. When the system is done, there will be markers on accessible portions of the trail from Easton to Wilkes-Barre. The Delaware Canal already has a system of markers.

We need volunteers for all aspects of this project, from providing wheel barrows to erecting posts. If you are interested in participating, please contact Dennis Scholl by phone at 610-923-3548 (ext.225) or by email at Dennis@DelawareandLehigh.org.

Although we can estimate the length of D&L Trail sections using river mile charts and topographical maps, there is no substitute for walking the trail with a surveying wheel and taking GPS readings. This is precisely what we began to do on Tuesday. Despite the rain, we walked the twelve miles from the Forks of the Delaware to Sand Island, rolling the wheel and placing pins at each mile along the section. On June 7, these pins will guide the volunteers who install our new mile markers.

This is a beautiful and relatively secluded section of railroad grade and canal towpath that follows the river’s edge and occasionally dips back into the woods. After eight miles or so, the forest gives way to the canal town of Freemansburg and Lehigh Canal Park. The next four mile stretch offers views of Bethlehem Steel, a lock recently revealed by the work of our Trail Tenders, and leads to the parking area on Sand Island.

During the walk, we saw deer tracks, fish jumping in the river and the canal, and a variety of birds, including Orioles, warblers, and mergansers. All of this between two cities!

[Photographs courtesy of Will Minehart]