MACUNGIE, Pa. - A long-told story about how a farmer sheltered with his sheep beneath an overhanging rock near Macungie and found a grand view of much of Lehigh County will be celebrated for the 94th year Thursday.
And the public is invited to share the experience.
Macungie Historical Society and Macungie Boy Scout Troop 71 will hold the annual Sheeprock Trek Thanksgiving morning hike and sunrise interfaith service.
The hike will leave at 5:45 a.m. Thursday from Macungie Volunteer Fire Department, 21 S. Walnut St., Macungie.
- The 94th annual Sheeprock Trek and sunrise interfaith service will set off from Macungie Volunteer Fire Department at 5:45 a.m. Thursday (Thanksgiving)
- The trek is organized by Boy Scout Troop 71 and the Macungie Historical Society
- The Sheeprock provides overhang cover and is a landmark of local folklore
From there, those who participate will trek up the hill past Kalmbach Memorial Park to Sheeprock, a large rock that provides overhead cover.
According to local folklore and the Macungie Historical Society, a farmer caught in a storm took his sheep beneath the overhanging rock to shelter from the cold north wind.
In 1929, local civic leader and scout troop founder William Shoemaker organized the first annual trek with the Young People's Council of Solomon's Reformed Church.
From the peak, organizers say there is a "grand panoramic view of two-thirds of Lehigh County and parts of Berks and Northampton counties.”
The hike and sunrise service is free and open to the public. Organizers said hot chocolate and doughnuts will be served at the fire department following the service.
For more information, call the Macungie Historical Society at 610-964-0372.
