Hike #146
The group on the former trestle site of the NYS&W Railroad, now Karamac Trail
Hike 146
Looking back, it was really tough to manage such a huge group following so many unmarked trails. AMC was really not ready for the kind of activities I was posting, though I would'nt have agreed at the time. Still, these earlier hikes I included them on were important to weed out who were and were not good for the core group. Fortunitely, this trip had a pretty good group.
9/5/4
Former NYS&W Railroad bed, now Karamac Trail at Del Water Gap
Ruins of former Karamac Inn
Along Bluff Road, Del Water Gap
Along Bluff Road, Del Water Gap
Along Bluff Road, Del Water Gap
Making our way up abandoned Grey Dot Trail
Abandoned Grey Dot Trail
Abandoned Grey Dot Trail area, Del Water Gap
<Photo 12>
Off trail view at Del Water Gap
Off trail view, Del Water Gap
Off trail view, Del Water Gap
<Photo 17>
Off trail view of the Delaware Viaduct from Mt. Tammany
The group atop Mt. Tammany
Along Mt Tammany Fire Road
Along Turquoise Trail
Along Turquoise Trail, Del Water Gap
Sunfish Pond
Test cave near Rock Cores
Test cave near Tocks Island
This next new hike would be the highest participation I had ever had for one hike! It was
probably also the first trip I had had posted in the AMC Outdoors Magazine. I was now
posting my trips on the Delaware Valley AMC internet hotline, as well as the young
members hotline where I was a moderator, meaning I could approve others trips!
I met a few participants earlier in the day, and we spotted some cars at the end point,
Pahaquarry Mines parking area.
Joining this time were veterans Tea Biscuit, David Noble, Jim Delotto and his girlfriend
Elke Martinez, John Spiridon and his girlfriend, Lucia, Julie Satmari, and Hsin Chien Tai,
Atsuko Lin. Newcomers included Nancy Taras, Amanda Spann, Tom Straus, Mike and
Kieu Manus, Agatha DeBoer, Joe Amisson, {name unknown}, and {name unknown}.
Tom and I hit it off right away, and he helped us with the car spotting. As I tried to get my
group together at the meeting point, Kittatinny Point Information Station, I chatted with Bob
Savron and John Flood who I had hiked with previously. They were doing their own AT
hike.
As we organized the group, I led everyone along the Karamac Trail, former NYS&W right
of way to the bridge site, then down to the ruins of the Karamac Inn. After making our way
back up to the road, we walked a short distance to Bluff Road, an old road over the
mountain I had not hiked in many many years. I had hiked it once in the past with my
grandfather. It connects the river road with the AT near Dunnfield Hollow, and is unblazed
and unmaintained. The first time I hiked it I recall getting stung by a bee.
Along the Bluff Road, some fell behind while others were doing well. We eventually
reached the AT, then headed back to the Dunnfield lot where Delotto, Elke, John, and Lucia
decided not to go on. They headed back to their cars while the remaining sixteen of us
continued on. My next plan was to scout the route of the long unmaintained Grey Dot Trail,
ascending steeply the face of Mt Tammany. I was only able to find blazes at the beginning
of the former trail.
As we made our way up the treacherous ridge, loose rocks posed a problem as many times
they would fall and nearly hit member of the group. Tom Straus caught on on his hand and
got a good cut from it. We split the group near the top, as some continued straight and I
turned left with a few others, climbing rocks to an off trail view of the Delaware Valley
and the gap. Tea Biscuit took up the rear helping Nancy Taras up the mountain. She said he
should be a phsychiatrist!
When we reached the top, everyone was exhausted, and by the time we reached the Blue
Dot Trail, Mike and Kieu, Nancy, Amanda, {name unkown}, and {name unkown}were led
by Tea Biscuit back down the ridge to the parking lot. The rest of us continued on along the
Mt Tammany Fire Road to the Turquoise Trail, then out to Sunfish Pond. I don’t recall if I
went swimming this time, probably not, but we headed down via the Garvey Springs Trail
to the Rockcores Trail. We followed Rockcores Trail to the end where I showed everyone
the test bore cave we had visited on hike #123. This time, I had my heart set on going
inside. I took my shirt off so that I could squeeze under the gate, and Atsuko lent us head
lamps. David soon followed me in, followed by Joe Ammison. We made our way back
into the cave, complete with wooden support beams over our heads. The tunnel soon had a
fork, where we decided to take the right passage. We continued in until we reached a wall,
then turned around to head back to the other tunnel. We made a right and walked for a
distance until bats started swooping at our heads, so we decided it was best to get out of
the tunnel in a quick fashion. I remember Joe being particularly excited about being in
there!
In the Tocks Island Cave
Test cave near Tocks Island
View of the Delaware River along River Road/Old Mine Road north of Worthington.
We opted to follow the Old Mine Road the remaining distance to the mine parking area,
and no one was interested in heading up to see any of the mines, having exhausted
themselves on my brutal torturous hike!
At the end of the hike, we had dinner at the TA Truckstop’s diner in Colombia with Joe,
{name unknown}, Tom, Agatha, David, Tea Biscuit and Paige. We had a good time
chatting and laughing. Dave was really into Agatha, (and got her number off my trip report
to hang out with her again, but nothing came of it) and Paige hit Tom in the head with a
coffee creamer. It was a funny good time. I remember Joe being particularly happy with the
hike.
Small falls along River Road, Del Water Gap
Abandoned Grey Dot Trail area, Del Water Gap
Off trail view, Del Water Gap
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