Hike #140; High Point to Sussex

 Hike #140

Hike 140

Along the AT in High Point SP

7/18/4

 

For my next new section hike, I was originally planning to do a loop hike at High Point

State Park, but with a rainy forecast and certainly plenty of cloud cover, I figured the

viewpoints would be obscured and changed the plan to a backup scouting hike.

Along the AT approaching High Point Monument

High Point Monument from the AT

Along the AT north of High Point

AT north of High Point

The AT north of High Point

AT north of High Point

This was my first solo AMC lead hike, and joining us this time were Tea Biscuit, Skyler,

Felisa Kulba, and her boyfriend, Phil Wingert. My backup hike was to begin hiking at NJ

Rt 23 in High Point State Park, walk the Appalachian Trail northbound to the Hanford

Branch of the NYS&W Railroad, and finish where we left off recently on hike #138.

We ascended a bit at the beginning, soon reaching obscured views; we could barely see

the High Point Monument through the thick fog. At this time, the Monument was closed to

public anyway. There was also an observation deck I climbed onto, but it was very wet

and slippery. I almost fell.

We continued on along the AT, descending into a gully where the Monument

Trail/Shawangunk Ridge Trail continued ahead. We turned right and began to descend the

Kittatinny Ridge. It was very easy from here, as it was gradual downhill for the most part,

passing over small ridges. We took a break near High Point AT Shelter, where I ran to see

what the shelter looked like. No one else went with me.

We soon headed down into the valley. Much of the trail through this area passed through

fields in addition to some woodlands. At one point, we even crossed stiles over fences

with cows in them! The AT led us alongside cultivated fields as well.

On the west side of the Vernie Swamp, Tea Biscuit and I headed up a driveway where we

were able to refill our water from a pump. The Puncheons over the Vernie Swamp were

incredible, as they are lifted high above the level of most puncheons, or bog bridges. We

also crossed the outlet of a pond at one point. It was a good thing we opted to do this hike

instead of the High Point loop, as the clouds remained strong all day. The only viewpoint

we missed out on was Wolf Pit Hill.

Along the AT on the Vernie Puncheon

Just south of Unionville, NY, we reached the NYS&W Hanford Branch right of way,

which the AT uses for a short distance south. When the AT turned off, we continued

straight on the right of way, which was very nice and clear until we reached some

recreational fields of Wantage.

When we reached the fields, we crossed, searching for railroad remnants. I could’nt find

anything at first, but soon found that the access road to the fields was built over it. It soon

broke off to the east, and we followed it through some weeds. The right of way led us

across a wet area on a low fill, then across an old bridge. We passed alongside an

industrial site and through a cut, finally coming out on a road where a house was built on

the right of way straight ahead. We decided rather than ask for permission to cross, we’d

head out to the main road to Sussex.

When we reached where we thought the railroad would have crossed, we asked a guy

living in the nearest house where the tracks used to cross. He surprisingly told us there had

never been a railroad near there! I knew better than this, and the next guy I asked pointed

out to me that the right of way nearly crosses the other guy’s yard! We were able to see the

right of way for some time from the highway, and we walked to the A&P in Sussex where

we left the cars.

Old Hanford Branch right of way south of Unionville NY

AT north of High Point

Along the AT on the Vernie Puncheon

Old Hanford Branch right of way south of Unionville NY