Hike #11: 6/19 to 6/20/99
Bill Bill and I starting Hike #20 at Dunnfield.
6/19-6/20/99
As it became warmer my interest in leading another overnight hike grew stronger, not to
mention that I had’nt led a long hike since March. Unfortunitely, the long distance
undertaking I had planned was not attractive to many. Only Bill Bill was willing to give it
a try. Bill Bill had been hiking with me shorter distances every night for the past few
months.
Entering Dunnfield Creek Natural Area
Dunnfield Creek Natural Area
My grandfather dropped us off at the Dunnfield Parking lot at Worthington State Forest
at the Delaware Water Gap. We wandered into Dunnfield Hollow on the AT to Dunnfield
Creek Trail, taking in all the site before ascending on the Holly Springs Trail back to the
AT.
Dunnfield Creek log crossing
Dunnfield Hollow
In Dunnfield Hollow
Dunnfield Creek Trail
Dunnfleld Creek Trail
Along Holly Springs Trail
Appalachian Trail at a view back toward the Water Gap in Worthington SF
Approaching sunfish Pond
Sunfish Pond's drainage area
Deer along Sunfish Pond
Bill Bill at Sunfish Pond
AT north of Sunfish Pond
Continuing along the AT we stopped at Sunfish Pond. Bill Bill did’nt swim, but I
took a dip. After taking this as a short lunch stop we made our way northeast into the
swampy lands. Soon, a rustling was heard in the branches in front of us, and a Black Bear
walked only a few feet in front of us across the trail.
Black bear crossing the AT at Tocks Swamp
We jumped back several feet and
froze, and the bear moved off. We then made our way up to the almost 360 degree views
from Mount Mohican. Moving on across Raccoon Ridge, we made our way down from
the ridge on Mohican Camp Road.
Ascending Mt. Mohican on the AT
Ascending Mt Mohican on the AT
Mt Mohican
Mt Mohican
Top of Mt. Mohican
View of Wallpack Bend from Mt. Mohican
Mt Mohican
Stone chair on Mt. Mohican
View north from Mt. Mohican
AT on Raccoon Ridge
When we got to the intersection of Gaisler Road, my
map showed the road continueing straight, though it had been abandoned. We opted to
follow the abandonment to where the road continued from a Cul De Sac.
Following back roads near Jacksonburg NJ
We then made
our way downhill into the Paulins Kill Valley to Jacksonburg, in Blairstown Twp. We
made our way south on Rt 94 to the Blairstown A&P with the idea of camping out in the
Paulins Kill Viaduct, a huge conrete bridge in Hainesburg built between 1909 and 1913 for
the Lackawanna Cutoff, after getting food.
Blairstown McDonalds break. This one was closed.
We made a pit stop at the Blairstown
McDonalds and flirted with the young girl who worked there, and stuffed up on burgers.
Next, we waltzed into the Blairstown A&P to visit our friend Alyssa Schuyler, then
dating Eric Schneider. She told us to head up to her house up the road and hang out later.
There was no real schedule for this, so we agreed and headed up to visit her mom and
stepdad. Eric called while we were there and told us to stay put because he was coming
up. Bill Bill borrowed some clothes, and we waited; there was a bear in the yard that we
just missed seeing.
At Lys's house
Eric
Eric being silly
Eric being silly
Running around like an idiot at Blairstown A&P
At Blairstown A&P
Blairstown A&P
Goofing off at Blairstown A&P
When Eric arrived shinanigans were at their peak, we laughed and goofed off; Eric put on
one of Lys’s bikini tops and posed for some ridicules pictures. We then headed back down
the street to see Lys as she go off work.
Blairstown A&P
Goofing off at Blairstown A&P
I ran around the parking lot acting like a moron in nothing but a pair of swim trunks.
Then we went into the store and took turns pushing each other around in a Shopping Cart.
We also stood on a pallet and ordered an employee to take us to the Snapple aisle.
When Lys got off work we went back to her house and hung out in her hot tub until late,
which was quite therepudic. The three of us crashed on the floor of Lys’s basement, and in
the morning we were off again, to Vail.
Paulins Kill Valley Trail near Vail
In Vail, we began walking the right of way of the former New York, Susquehanna, and
Western Railroad, now the Paulins Kill Valley Trail, westbound. We continued through
Hainesburg, passing under the huge viaduct over the Paulins Kill, then continued on
passing the junction with the Lehigh and New England Railroad. We made a left,
continueing along the NYS&W line; this part of it was originally the Blairstown Railroad,
built in the 1870s, and taken over by the NYS&W which constructed it’s portion of the
line in 1881.
Along Paulins Kill Valley Trail near Vail
Paulins Kill Valley Trail at Hainesburg
Under the Paulins Kill Viaduct
Paulins Kill Valley Trail west of Hainesburg
Former Hainesburg Junction site and ruins of the telegraph office
Warrington stone bridge
NYS&W railroad bed along he Paulins Kill
After passing through Warrington we entered Colombia Lake Wildlife Management Area,
continueing along the railbed, some of which had been destroyed for Colombia Lake as
well as the construction of Rt 80. Originally, there was a junction here, where the
northbound railroad followed the Delaware north through the Delaware Water Gap on to
Stroudsburgh PA, and the southbound route followed the Delaware to Lackawanna’s
Warren line in Delaware (through the cut I had many times walked through). Much of this
line in both directions was obliterated for the construction of Rts 80 and 46.
Former NYS&W rail bed along Paulins Kill Lake
Passing under Rt 80 at Paulins Kill Lake
Paulins Kill Lake dam
Paulins Kill Lake dam
We continued under rt 80 via a large pipe and followed the right of way, stopping for a
rest at the Colombia Dam, and into the woods on a very overgrown section. We came out
to Rt 46 in Colombia through someone’s back yard with a nasty sounding, barking dog.
Along former NYS&W Railroad near Paulins Kill Lake
Approaching Portland Colombia Footbridge
We turned right toward the footbridge into Portland. After crossing and getting some
Choco milk at Port Mart, we continued south. We waved at a cop pulling up from along
the river before heading out, and he must have decided to investigate what we were doing.
Just after crossing the Jacoby Creek bridge, he pulled up on the tracks in his patrol car.
As it turned out, he was the cheif of police, named Cartwright.
Delaware Water Gap from Portland Colombia Footbridge
We chatted with him for
some time, and he asked “So what do you boys’ girlfriends think of you doing this fifty
mile hike?”. Like morons, we admitted “We don’t have girlfriends”. This statement, along
with the fact that earlier in the conversation we were discussing musical theatre, led him to
open up more, telling us “I just got out of a relationship myself, and let me tell you, this
person was a real jerk.”. We immediatley made the obvious assumption that he was gay
and that he thought us to be so as well. We got a bit more uncomfortable, but were still
courtious. We let him know we had to be going, and made hints that we were not gay,
then moved on.
Crossing Jacoby Creek in Portland PA
Jacoby Creek Crossing in Portland PA
Delaware Trestle
Delaware Trestle
Site of former crossing over Rt 46, Delaware NJ, on the former Warren Railroad
Old road in Delaware NJ
Delaware NJ
Delaware NJ
Along the former Warren Railroad south of Delaware NJ
Running up an ATV path from the Warren Railroad bed to the future cell tower access road
Running up an ATV path near Ramseyburg
Running up an ATV path near Ramseyburg
Approaching the north end of Manunka Chunk Tunnel
In Manunka Chunk Tunnel
In Manunka Chunk Tunnel
South end of Manunka Chunk Tunnel
South side of Manunka Chunk Tunnel
The walk south along the Warren Railroad line was pretty easy, with no obstructions,
though vegetation was much thicker than our previous visit. South of the Manunka Chunk
tunnel was particularly thick.
South side of Manunka Chunk Tunnel
Cut near Manunka Chunk Tunnel
Farm road parallel with the Warren Railroad bed just north of Upper Sarepta Road
Former Catherine's Run bridge site, abandoned Warren Railroad
Former Warren Railroad in Sarepta
Former Warren Railroad near Sarepta
Former Warren Railroad and the Bridgeville Station, the only remaining station on this line in NJ.
Approaching the sand quarry in Bridgeville
Sand Quarry approach in Bridgeville
This time, the sand pit had begun to overtake the right of way. We were able to walk
easily around where the tracks went, only now piled with dirt, and partially dug up.
Sand quarry, Bridgeville NJ
The sand quarry had only just barely overtaken the rail bed here.
Former grade crossing in Buttsville
Former Warren Railroad bed
When we reached Oxford, my Aunt Bonnie saw us on Rt 31 heading to Axford Avenue
and the tunnel. She pulled over and offered us a ride, which even today I am surprised we
turned down.
North side of Oxford Tunnel
Oxford Tunnel area
Inside Oxford Tunnel
South side of Oxford Tunnel
We made it all the way back to Washington, having successfully completed about fifty
miles! I trip to remember.
“The Gap is my favorite natural, mostly natural, place on Earth. Almost like a little
secret forgotten in time and entrusted to only a few. 50 miles in two days, staying with
friends is better then a hotel room, cant take any rides: must finish, walking through
water would feel good on the feet: lets go!, Loads of youthful conversation about the
world” -Bill Bill
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