Hike #871; Serious Ramtown and Allaire Loop

Hike #871; Serious Ramtown and Allaire Loop

8/10/15 Ramtown and Allaire Loop with Serious Sean Dougherty, Lerch (Michael Clark), Jen Berndt, Justin Gurbisz, Mike Heaney, Cory Salveson, Linda Whiteford, Jack Lowry, Susie Duncan, Dave Hagenbuch, Lyz Hagenbuch, Ric Giantisco, Gregg Hudis, Stephen Argentina, Christian Alexander, Marion Barbato, Dan Asnis, Ken Lidman, Alyssa Lidman, Tamara Sapilak, Carla ?, Yie ?, Dan Lurie, Doctor Watson (Richard), ?, and Vlad ?.

The group at the south side of Allaire

Our next hike would be a very unconventional and interesting loop between the home of our friend "Serious Sean" Dougherty at Ramtown and Allaire State Park.

Sean had brought the idea up some time ago, that he wanted to have a party as a thank you to the group for all the fun he'd been having, and that he'd had an idea for a loop in the area of his house, an exploratory crazy sort of thing that would take us to some of his favorite lesser known trails in Allaire State Park, then loop back another way.

We went over possible routes, with criteria being that we'd hit these points in Allaire, reach the old railroad bed (which connects it with all the previous group hikes), hitting the hidden "Tiger Woods Trail" and the abandoned cars somewhere on the south side. Sean came up with a really crazy and interesting looking route.

In the months leading up to the hike, he sent me a list of all of the planned road crossings, how we could access, and where we could pick up the regular trails. As the event neared, Lerch also had some ideas, having explored the place in great detail. I maintained that I would play an "executive producer" role, and joked that I could take some credit if it went well, but could write it all off like Quentin Tarentino with "Natural Born Killers" if I wasn't happy with it!

We all met on Poplar Street in Ramtown, in a development. We parked on street to the right, up and down in both directions, then congregated near an intersection. We must have looked pretty crazy, as it is not very often such a huge group of people descends upon a neighborhood here in such a way. One lady came up to me and asked what I was doing. I was already drinking a beer that Sean had given me, so it probably looked even more odd. I told the lady we were hiking a loop to Allaire and back, and then she seemed alright, though puzzled.

Some were not so puzzled, but rather threatened. Not too long after getting there a police officer showed up wondering what was going on. He had said that someone had called, so we let him know what was up, and he was fine. Sean gave him some ID and let him know where he lived not far off, and we were good to go.

I was ALMOST good. On Thursday at work, while using a saw and clearing brush, I must have hit a nest or something. I felt two stings on my right leg, one lower, one inner thigh. The lower one was normal, but the upper one very shortly felt much more painful than any sting I'd felt in recent years. I told my buddy John that it was pretty bad. We laughed a lot about it, because I took off running to get away, lobbed my saw and it was then attacked by more yellow jackets or something. I had to pull it back with a rake. But this sting was far different.

I hiked that night from Lockatong to Frenchtown, and it still hurt, but was easy to ignore. The next day, it had swollen up quite a lot. I figured it would go away pretty quickly, but around the sting itself it turned dark red. The redness spread over the next day to encompass a large area. By the morning of this hike, swelling was around fifty percent of my right leg, from the bite or sting point all the way around to the other side. It was painful to bend or straighten my knee. When I touched it, it didn't feel like my own leg. I decided to keep moving with it, but let everyone know if I had a problem to get help. I had cramps in both of my legs for no good reason from the start.

We hiked west on Poplar to Newtons Corner Road. We went briefly left, then right on Conifer Street, and followed it around a bend. At the bend in the road was a grassy open area and a path into the woods that we took. There was a swath of pine barrens here, and a huge area of ATV tracks and sand.  Sean and Lerch went ahead, leading everyone through a crazy menagerie of paths, and it seemed like we were going in circles for a while. I siphoned through the group and said hi to people.

After a bit of  bushwhacking that was getting worse, and getting uncomfortably close to people's back yards, Lerch made a bee line to somewhere. I was just about to the point where I was going to jump in, but then I saw on my phone that we were very close to where we needed to be, and Lerch had found a good path. We headed to the west for a bit, and it was like an actual trail. There was a little foot bridge over Gravelly Run, the small tributary that passes through, and we came to the rear of an abandoned building. Lerch passed it by citing that was kind of sketchy even for him. We all went around it to the right, in somewhat of a cleared route.

We skirted the side of this long building to emerge on the cut grass by Ramtown-Greenville Road. There were so many of us it must have looked weird with us coming out. The apparent property owners or at least workers from there could see us, and I didn't want to hang out. Ken and Alyssa were on their way to meet up, as well as Carla, and I didn't want to hang around that area after coming out of where we probably shouldn't have been. I got everyone to go across the street and hang out for a few moments under the shade next to Ramtown School. Lerch pointed out potential routes on his phone that looked good, skirting the rear of schools and ball fields to the north. That looked good, so we headed along the edge of the cut grass and along a ball field. We cut slightly right and found a cut through in a line of trees that led out to an access road to Greenville School. We turned right on the road briefly to the building, then cut to the left along more ball fields in some shade. Once at the back, we headed north behind the building and a corner. We mostly kept to the perimeter of the ball fields which had some sort of trail along it.

After regrouping out of site of roads, we continued to the corner of the fields where there was a cut through to a trail in the woods.

Cory climbs to visit

We cut to the right on the trail heading to the north. Here, we found an interesting two seater deer stand. Lerch and I climbed to the top. The thing even had some sort of a railing that came down over our heads to our laps like some sort of baby seat for a car. After a few moments here, Sean powered ahead to bring the group through more woods. We ended up on the swampy edge of the Quail Creek.

The creek was not really possible to ford, or at least it would not be at all pleasant. It was too early on in the hike to be pulling that kind of crap anyway. We opted to go left on the official looking trail, which led us out to a horse farm on Lakewood Allenwood Road. We hurriedly headed out the road and onto the road. Lerch and I powered off to the left, thinking that would be the best way to go at first. We waited up when we got to the shady part of the road. Half the group was staying behind so I had to holler for them to move on. I didn't want everyone waiting in front of some private farm we again weren't supposed to be at.

After looking it over, Sean pointed out to us that there was a nearby park that would provide us with good access to a power line that would get us toward Allaire State Park. It looked like a better way than cutting through more private land directly ahead. We turned back to pass the farm (a girl working there had seen us go through, so I hated going back by) heading toward DeerWood Park.

Pond on Sandyhill Brook

We walked the road for only a short while before we reached the evergreen trees that bordered DeerWood Park. When we got there, we held up for those behind, then moved on along the grassy edge of the park to an access road that led off somewhat to the left. This access road continued to the north in a sort of open terrain, then got to a lovely little muck filled pond that Sean and Lerch joked was my swimming spot on the right. This was part of the tributary known as Sandyhill Brook. We crossed the outflow on a little bridge and continued on the sandy road. There were lovely flowers growing on the spillway.

Flower at DeerWood Park

The woods road passed through a line of trees to a field area which we crossed on what now appeared to be only an ATV path. It led west to parallel a somewhat new looking development with a lovely retention pond (because it had a lot of wild flowers in it).

We continued into a nice area of woods beyond of some ATV paths. These paths led out to a chain link fence line, then followed that to the north. It was easy to get into the fenced area because it's like an ATV course now.  I held back and chatted with Dan and Doctor Watson for a bit in this section. We continued to follow the pathway until we got to the power line cut. From here, we turned right to head north.

Weird woods

I walked with Jack for a little bit singing songs, and even when we weren't he provided the backdrop of music as we passed along some of the mundane power line sections.

The power line actually didn't last for too long, which is sort of unfortunate considering the mess we had to go through next. We zig zagged back and forth over the line for the best clearing, and ATV paths seemed to head into the woods to the left. There was a fence blocking ahead from some farm or something. We cut into the woods to the left, and tried heading to the north. Looking at it on the maps now, this reminds me of some of the stuff I used to do with the group when i first discovered using Google Earth as a tool. I would try to rip through some really narrow places to hike that today I wouldn't try because in most cases it would turn out bad.

Weedy woods

The ATV paths went different places, further west and back because they went around fallen trees. We tried to follow the more direct routes over the fallen trees and skirting the fenced property to the right. Eventually, this got really bad, and we cut through to the left onto the edge of another field. We were now quite a good ways west of the power line, and looking at google maps it looked like this would be fine, but the fields were all fenced in. We headed to the right of it again, then skirted the edge of a yard in order to hit the aptly named "Easy Street". Some of the group turned directly across the person's back yard rather than emerging respectfully (as possible) onto the road between the two properties.

We turned right on the road for a short bit, then left onto the power line right of way once more, now a nice and clear ATV path again. This by no means was a nice long, terrific section. We went up hill a bit on the power line and faced yet another impediment. We came to a giant wall surrounding an industrial yard. We had the choice to go left or right to try to get around it, and on the other side we'd reach Allaire State Park, and the end of most major difficulties.

We opted to try for the left, it being the way that seemed to have the most green on the aerial images. We had been in touch with Carla, Ken, and Alyssa about meeting us at the power line, and were getting to them.

As we headed through woods to the right, Lerch told us about run ins he'd had with the property owners trying to get through this mess. He said they were not very nice about it and we wanted to avoid that. So we kept going along this path that seemed to skirt the south side of wetlands associated with the North Branch of the Squankum Brook. The path was good for a bit, but then it just disappeared. We tried to bushwhack to the west a bit more, but the thorns were getting bad. I led my way into a mess here, and we all agreed that we should be going back. Lerch thought we needed to find another path, but I insisted that we go back the way we came on the same one when we got out. Who knows what way would be better, because my way certainly was no picnic.

We headed parallel with the wall of the industry/junk yard place heading north, and fighting through some sort of awful phragmites. Lerch said "Wer'e really doing this...? We are..." as I headed off into stuff so thick I couldn't see two feet in front of me. It was horrid. We fought through till I could see open mowed grass and buildings.

Lerchwhacking

Lerch was covered in all sorts of hitchhikers; he had gone ahead of me for a bit and caught the brunt of these and the spider webs in the face (though with his height he probably never gets a break from the spider webs in the face, or reaps the benefit of not being first in line to avoid them). I made sure we had the entire group together at this point, save for Dan and Dr. Watson who decided they'd cut out somehow and get to Allaire.

We hurried out onto the driveway, then behind some planted Cedars as to stay out of sight. We continued on the grass and then out to a long gravel driveway that led to a metal farm gate on Herberstville Road. We had to climb the gate, which was no fun either after getting the hell cut out of us on that bushwhack. We found Ken and Alyssa parked in the wrong spot, on that private property, so Lerch showed them where to park, and we all got together for a needed break at the gate entering Allaire.

There seem to be no real trails on this southern end. We had to walk the power line once more, this time more comfortably, to get to the north where we could find trails. Eventually, we cut off of the power line into the woods to the right. We were on more ATV paths at first, but somehow Sean led us to mountain biking trail that heads through the woods toward the golf course and the Squankum Brook.

Carz

We cut to the left, off trail, and Sean led us to some abandoned cars sitting in the middle of nowhere out there. How he managed to find this I have no idea. I didn't see any kind of path anywhere leading to it. We took a break here, and an somehow got behind. The two new guys, Vlad and I forget the other guy's name, cut away early when we hit some official trail, I think it was a red one, heading back to Allaire Village.

We headed back up off trail to reach the wider trail we had been on.

Serious Allaire!

Dan Asnis somehow got behind us in this section, so I told him to go on to Allaire Village the best way he could find. He is resourceful enough to get a map of Allaire on his phone or something, and he didn't seem to have any trouble getting there somehow. We continued on the path Sean took us on, which led us winding through the woods along a little tributary, which must have been part of Squankum Brook or something, then to a larger one.

Mess of trees in the creek with a Hagenbuch

We followed along the river for a short bit and came to where there was a trail going off to the east,  higher above it. I waded up the middle of the river, and got myself submerged, which was really refreshing. Justin and Dave, Lyz's brother, both climbed up onto the mess of trees. We eventually all got down and then followed more trail, past another abandoned car,

Serious Racecar Driver

I honestly don't know what trails we were following. I think some of it was 'official', and certainly a lot of it was rogue mountain biker trails. I'm just not sure. All I know is that we paralleled the creek for a bit, then we crossed it at a rather easy spot to continue east.

Once on the other side, there was the trail that Sean had been telling us about, the "Tiger Woods Trail". This is sort of a joke name applied to this trail because it runs so close to the golf course at Allaire. It was actually pretty cool, because it went up some of the steepest slopes I'd seen in this part of the state, and was in interesting, deeply rutted trails.

Tiger Woods Trail

One particular hell mess of a trail Lerch had mentioned he rode down on his bike without crashing. Some of that stuff I wouldn't dare try. I'd probably be eating my handle bars. We continued along this Tiger Woods Trail which led us to an abandoned and paved park access road, at a curve. The road was broken up, rutted out, and seemed to have a lot of cut branches. Park guys probably use this as a dump for cut branches and woods.

The road emerged onto the green of the golf course. I think the original plan was to avoid this, but Lerch had mentioned he'd cut through before. It was weird, but we stayed on the golf course road and just walked to the north.

I really can't believe we just kept walking across the course, but we had no problem. In fact, we ended up walking over to the concession stand where we had a nice lunch break! A lot of the group ordered some food at this point, and we all layed on the green to relax for a bit. Someone left keys in the golf cart parked there, but we opted not to try to mess with the thing too much.

After our break, we moved onward, still on the golf course, keeping to the left side out to the main club house. We met some of the employees who directed us out. They  must be used to hikers getting lost and going through, or not getting lost and going through anyway. The old Freehold and Jamesburg Railroad used to cross right at the end of the course. I had hiked that through in 2008, and we ended up on the course at that time too. The trail now bypasses the course to the north. We got to that, then headed west just a little bit to the shade. We were going to go to Allaire Village until I realized it was out of the way, and only to go find Dan. I texted Dan to meet us on the Edgar Felix Memorial Bikeway, which is the name of the trail after it leaves Allaire, and he headed toward us. We turned to follow the trail to the east, and pretty soon got to the double bridges over the Garden State Parkway. When we got to the other side, we sat down on the grass for a nice break.

Jess Collins and her bf were planning on meeting up with us, but we were too long getting to Allaire, so they took their own hike.

Jack Revolution

Jack layed on his back, strumming his carbon fiber guitar, and I reminded him that when John Lennon recorded his vocals for "Revolution" with the Beatles, he did so laying on his back because he felt it would give the vocal sound he wanted for the track. Jack of course broke into a rendition of "Revolution" right there and then.

Soon, Dan showed up, and we all stood up to continue on. From this point, we followed Lerch, who took us on a route that was altogether new to all of us.

Sean's new cap

Someone had discarded a yamaka along the trail at some point, so Sean, who always finds interesting props along any hike, wore it for the remainder of the trip. We followed the rail trail to Lakewood Allenwood Road and turned right for a little bit. The time went by fast, and soon we turned right into the entrance to Robert L. Brice Memorial Park on a dirt driveway. We followed this to the end, and Lerch ushered us onto a trail at the end. It weaved through some very nice woods in a circuitous fashion until reaching the Garden State Parkway. The trail then turned to pass beneath the same. However, construction was going on which made passing through a bit more arduous.

Parkway underpass

We went under the first bridge, and there were coffer dams in place to allow for passage of water without eroding the work area. Lerch climbed onto the section just beyond the bridge and jumped in. It was super deep, and so I followed him right away. Lyz, Ric, and Jen followed after that. I'm not sure who else went in, but I got under the bridge and hung out there for a bit while the others splashed around.

As we moved on, another path continued on the other side with a footbridge over a small tributary, then we reached the southbound Parkway bridge. We passed under this one and continued on along the path to a weird fallen log. The log was used unofficially as a connector trail to Allaire State Park.

Lerch and I went over early, and some opted to go back to the Parkway bridge and dash across. The water beneath was really deep, over my head anyway. Lerch and I helped people along. There was a wooden plank secured to the right side of it to help with walking. On the south side, the log went under water. Lerch mentioned that this was the first time he'd seen this under water, which meant the water was abnormally high on the Manasquan here.

Gregg went over, and he must have missed the end of the plank, as he fell in. We helped him back up. I swam around a bit, and got back up when the next person was going to go across. It really was a great little swim spot I'd love to revisit.

Arm wrastling

The trail on the other side led us to another abnormally steep slope. We climbed to the top, and then some of the group went ahead somewhere, not knowing where we were trying to go. Somehow Lerch and Sean managed to get them back together, while I acted as sweep for a bit, and went back to check in the other direction.

Somehow, trails there led to a group camping area with a nice picnic bench, a good place to take a little break before the final leg of the hike. We did lots of silly arm wrestling at this point.

The original plan was to connect up with the Brick Township Reservoir, which looking at it now we could have easily done it but added a little distance. Instead, we turned south on Lakewood Allenwood Road and followed it west at the bend to a ball field park area on the left. We cut to the south, went around a water tower area, then took Virgina Drive south to Newtons Corner Road, which we followed back to the development where we started.

HAMMER TIME!

We walked over to Sean's house from there, where we were served with some amazing food, and lounged by his awesome built in pool.

There was delicious flounder, ziti, and tons of other stuff. I'm not usually into shrimp, but I tried the fried shrimp and it was delicious. There was also fried clams that were amazing. As usual, I stuffed myself to well beyond capacity. Feeling all knocked out from food and rather helpless, Lerch threw me back into the pool.

I felt really very good without a lot of pain in my leg after the hike. However, the next day when I got up for work and started getting ready, the pain was so bad that I couldn't move fast. I tried to ignore it and continued, but when I realized that as fast as I could move, I would still be late for work, I called out using a sick day. The cramp was getting worse going up the stairs, and so I tried to get back to sleep for a bit. I thought to go to the hospital, but I held off, and it was fine. Even ten days later, as of this writing, it remains stiff and somewhat swollen around the bite point, with red and discolored skin. Perhaps I was bit by a wolf spider or something and not a yellow jacket. Either way, I should be fine now.

The hike turned out to be really really great overall, and I was so glad so many awesome people showed up to make it what Serious Sean wanted it to be. Everyone was in high spirits for the most part, despite some of the craziness with barbed wire fences, weeds, and water. It definitely lived up to it's name as a "Serious" adventure!