A Birds Eye View Hike with a Sip of Wine
This trip includes raptors, a great hike, a river of rocks and a wine tasting extravaganza. A stone’s throw away from Philadelphia, we will spend the day traversing the Blue Mountain Ridge, home of Hawk Mountain and the Hawk Mountain Bird Sanctuary. Literally a migratory highway in the sky and a famed birding location, raptors such as hawks, eagles, vultures, falcons, ospreys and harriers flock and soar in the updrafts and thermals hoovering above the many spectacular lookout vistas and rock outcroppings. Some of the trails leading to the lookouts on the ridge are rocky and require careful hand and foot placement to properly maneuver around and on top of boulders.
We will descend into the valley and gain an appreciation for the spectacular force of nature as we explore the River of Rocks, a mile-long boulder field, up to 40 feet deep, which was deposited 10,000-12,000 years ago, when glaciers stopped 40-50 miles to the north of this location. A periglacial process cracked boulders from the ridge top, which gradually slid to their current position.
The day journey is not yet over as we will stop at a local winery on the way home to enjoy the fruits of the land.
For personal gear, please visit the Documents page and refer to the Day Trip Gear List document so that you are properly prepared. The FAQ page provides additional information.