May 19, 2019 10 am
Guided Gentle Hike in Wissahickon Valley Park
Then Noon Lunch at Valley Green Inn/2 SPACES LEFT
Beth David will take a Walk in the Woods. We will have a Friends of Wissahickon Ambassador guide us on a walk. We will start from Valley Green Inn AT 10 AM on a flat, easy walking path and then move to a creek side walk. Then AT NOON lunch at the Valley Green Inn, 2 RESERVATION REMAIN
YOU CAN JOIN US FOR THE EASY WALK, OR THE WHOLE WALK.
ONLY 5 SPACES LEFT FOR THE WALK. Please let Susan Frant know as soon as possible. Car pooling and early (by 9:30 am) arrival are strongly recommended as parking lots fill quickly near Valley Green. Hiking shoes or sneakers are a must – no flip flops.
Email sfrantedd@gmail.com with questions and your RSVP.
DESCRIPTION OF OUR WALK IN THE WOODS BY OUR GUIDE:
Starting from the historic Valley Green Inn, we will walk about 1 mile down Forbidden Drive, alongside the scenic Wissahickon Creek. This flat (easy walking) gravel/dirt roadway was designated by the state as PA’s Trail of the Year in 2018. This roadway was originally constructed as a colonial turnpike accessing early mills and hotels. From the drive, the creek can be reached by way of stone steps down to the Livezy Dam, the site of one of the largest mills in the country. We will then visit the Gorgas Creek cave, a chamber accessible under a large rock formation.
The rest of our walk will be on a rocky, hillside trail on the other side of the stream. For those unsteady on their feet, they can return back to the Inn on Forbidden Drive. We will cross the Mt Airy bridge and head back upstream passing interesting geologic formations and possibly some wet portions of the trail. We will pass through Fingerspan bridge, a steel mesh tunnel/artwork crossing a deep gully. We will stop on the stone steps high above the stream for a rest and beverage/snack break. We will then continue on to the historic Livezy House and the infamous Devils Pool. After helping each other on the stone-crossing of Cresheim creek, we will ascend over Pee Wee rock on our way back to the Inn. Walking sticks/poles or canes will prove useful.