Flying Discs: Francis E. Walter Dam, Part III

Disc Golf Hole.

I drove back to the first road I came in on and parked at what I thought was a gamelands parking area. I was shocked to find a Frisbee golf course there. The truck I parked next to had Frisbee stickers on its windows so I set out to find those playing the game. At the start of the course there was a bulletin board, which had a posting about Disc Golf Doubles and another for Dodo’s Disc Golf Shop. The information for both is listed below. There was also a mailbox attached to the board, which read scorecards, but upon opening it I only found a note that said “Sorry no score cards today”.  I tried following the course to find those playing the game and even with maps posted at every hole the course was very difficult to navigate. From a distance I heard voices so I just started heading in that direction.

            In minutes I came upon two disc golfers and introduced myself. The two men, Chris and Kevin, were from Scranton and had made the drive just to play this course. They have been involved in the sport for about three years and have been to this site before. I asked them how they got involved in it and they said through friends and Chris added that they liked it because it was free. With my trouble of navigating the course I asked if they ran into the same difficulty and they explained that normally in the scorecard box there are both maps and scorecards. They also said that even with being there before without the maps they were a bit confused on some of the holes.

I asked if I could stick around for a while and take some photos of them playing. They did not mind at all and continued. Chris took a shot and the disc hit a tree, but ended up close to the goal and he shouted “That’ll work for what it was”.  I asked how they were playing that day and Chris explained he was doing well until this hole. Then swearing came from the trees on the next hole over and Kevin explained that had been going on for a time now and he said at least they were doing better than the group ahead of them. I thanked both of the men for there time and started back to the lot. To me disc golf seems kind of fun and it might be something to check out in the future.

Chris, disc golfer from Scranton.

Disc Golf Information:

Dodo’s Disc Golf Shop

962 W. Wyoming St.

Allentown, PA 18103

Phone: 484-350-3104

E-mail: www.dodosdiscgolfshop.com

Disc Golf Doubles

            Tuesday 5:15 Eurana Park Weatherly

            Thursday 5:15 Hickory Run State Park

            Sunday 10:00 Hickory Run State Park

            Fee: $5 (Per Person ?)

            Could Win: $100

            Contact Woody: (570) 239-7359

Special Thanks to:

Kevin and Chris for the interviews.

To the Top: Francis E. Walter Dam, Part II

View looking down into the basin.

From the Basin of Francis Walter I could see over thirty motorcycles parked on the road, which stretches across the dams top. I got back into my car to check it out and see what was going on. The road out of the basin is a little bit sketchy, it is a two way with only enough room for one car and there is only one pull off on the way up. In my opinion though the views are worth the nervousness of taking this route instead of traveling back the way I came in. At the top I found another pull off on the main road and a placard about the dam. I stopped quickly and took the photo of it below. It gives details about most of the aspects of the dam.

            I hurried to the next pull-off to try to talk to some of the cyclists, but I was too late. As soon as I parked the convoy of two wheelers started off. I snapped a couple photos as they passed and began to walk towards the middle of the dam. Over the basin side the cars parked at the bottom looked like matchboxes and highlighted the enormity of this man made feat. On the other side fisherman worked their way down paths to get to the rippling Lehigh River, which seems to burst out of the dam’s spillway. After a few more pictures I was back to my car again. On the way in I noticed something strange and I wanted to check it out.

About Francis E. Walter Dam

Cyclists getting back on their journey.

To me, where the Lehigh River begins.

The First Stop: Francis E. Walter Dam, Part I

South Entrance to Francis E. Walter Dam

To me the Lehigh starts at Francis E. Walter dam, which sits on the border of Luzerne and Carbon Counties and is where the “Lehigh River” and Bear Creek meet. I started out mid-morning yesterday to this, my first destination. For other travelers, such as yourself, the turnpike or route 80 make it easy to get there. Both can be taken right to route 940 and from there, in just over a mile to the east and the entrance to the dam will be on the left. This is the south entrance and I find that it sets the stage for the views found at the end of the road. State gamelands border the entrance road for two and a half miles and especially at this time of year when the leaves are starting to change it is quite beautiful. Near the dam the road splits and I was left with a decision. Go down into the dam’s basin on the lower road or go over the dam on the top road. I went into the basin. When the dam is filling this road is flooded and there is no option, you have to take the upper road. At the bottom there is somewhat of a parking area, but mostly it is hardened lake bottom.

I found a place right off the side of the road parking next to a black truck who’s driver was packing up his gear and getting ready to leave. Getting out I caught him before he got on his way. Maung Ne Win was his name and he was there to enjoy the morning. Mr. Win explained to me that he stops by this location about every other weekend to try to catch the largest carp he can. He told me that he caught five carp in the last two hours the largest of which was thirty-four inches. Unlike most fishermen I have talked to in the past Mr. Win showed me pictures of his catch on his phone and it was no big fish story, he actually caught a thirty-four incher. On this day he was fishing from shore, but he does also take a Kayak out on this flat water. After a short talk I asked Mr. Win if I could take the below picture and we parted ways. Many others were there on the lake, with flat bottom boats, either out fishing or just on a slow ride on the water. Walking around I could see why Mr. Win and the others had come here, not only for the fishing I thought, but for the peace. Even with a number of people around, it was still quiet and the views of exposed rock mountainsides, topped with trees and soaking in the water were really just outstanding.

View from the bottom.

Maung Ne Win after a morning of fishing.

The basin.

Francis E. Walter Dam, Part II will be up in the next couple days.

Introduction

For five years I worked as an environmental educator and river guide for the Wildlands Conservancy, based in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Through my work I was able to travel throughout Northeastern PA, specifically in the Lehigh River Watershed. I was able to witness the naturally occurring wonders found in this part of the state and now I will be sharing them with you. For this blog I will be traveling back to these sites each week and will give a journalistic perspective to you, my readers. You will then be able to visit these sites not only through my blog, but on your own, in your travels. This week I will be headed to the uppermost portions of the Lehigh River and highlighting recreational areas. Over the next couple weeks I will be working my way downstream and posting blogs from the head waters of the Lehigh down to Easton where it flows into the Delaware. I hope you follow me on these travels and get out and make it to at least some of the areas I highlight. I am sure that they will not disappoint.