The Kittatinies were one of the few local hiking areas I hadn't been to. You may also know this as the Delaware Water Gap, but we weren't hiking at the actual gap, just in the National Recreation Area.
It's not an area you can reach via public transit, which is probably why I hadn't made it out here before, but it was quite lovely. Our hike started near Buttermilk Falls. In the summer, spring, and fall, you can park at the base of the falls, but in the winter the road closes, adding two miles of (dirt) roadwalking to our hike.
From the frozen falls we headed uphill - and it is a steep up - to the Appalachian Trail. We followed a ridge and then climbed Rattlesnake Peak. We left the AT at an old road, then headed back down that same steep hill and back to the car. Another loop had been tentatively planned, but the additional four miles of road were enough; we completed 13.5 miles as it was.
There was an inch or two of snow on the ground, not enough to require any special footwear. Naturally, it was cold out, about 20 degrees F. Despite overcast skies it was a pleasant day, without precipitation or wind. Of course, now I'd like to go back and see the falls when they're aren't frozen over.
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