Hike #147
Hike 147
Along the AT on Kittatinny Ridge
9/19/4
For my next hike, I would assemble yet another large group, wich if not for flooding would
probably have been the largest participation yet. With 33 signed on, only 15 showed up,
and the only way to the meetng point was through Blairstown.
My Camaro headed to the beginning point. The roads were all flooded.
My Camaro on Millbrook Road
Trailhead on Millbrook Road
At our beginning point, AT on Millbrook Road
<Photo 11>
Heading up the Catfish Fire Road
Along Catfish Fire Road
Trailhead of Rattlesnake Swamp Trail, flooded on this occasion
<Photo 15>
Catfish Fire Road
Catfish Fire Road
Off trail view point near Catfish Fire Road
<Photo 19>
Off trail viewpoint near Catfish Fire Road
On Catfish Tower
Catfish Tower
I planned on leading the Millbrook loop hike again, though we would end up not finishing
it due to time constraints and rough trail conditions due to flooding. Joining this time were
hike veterans Cathy, as well as Rich Pace, Chris Jones, Al Eisberg, Jenny Walsh, Chris
Jones, Ervin DeJesus, Barth Johnson, Tom Straus, Cindy Kuhn, and Nancy Taras.
Newcomers included Nancy’s daughter, Rachel, Kevin Dealy, and Margo Pellegino.
We almost missed Kevin, as he was parked in a lot further from everyone else in his
Mazda Miata. Cathy brought a few down to spot their cars in Millbrook while anyone
wanting to continue could go on. Margo was quite amazing in that she was over six months
pregnant for this hike!
We followed the AT at first along the fire road, which was very wet. There were many
puddles we had to navigate around. My original plan was to walk Rattlesnake Swamp
Trail, but this would be almost impossible as Rattlesnake Swamp was now a lake. Recent
Hurricanes had caused a great deal of flooding, and the waters had yet to crest in the
rivers.
View along Kittatinny Ridge
View from Catfish Tower
View from Catfish Tower
<Photo 24>
Catfish Tower
View from Catfish Tower
View from Catfish Tower
<Photo 28>
Catfish Tower
The group from Catfish Tower
View from Catfish Tower
<Photo 32>
Taking a break at Catfish Tower
View at Catfish Tower
View along Kittatinny Ridge
View along Kittatinny Ridge
View along Kittatinny Ridge
<Photo 39>
Along the AT, Kittatinny Ridge
Taking a break along the AT near Catfish Pond Gap
Along the AT near Catfish Pond Gap
<Photo 43>
View point along the AT
View point along the AT
Viewpoint along the AT
View along the AT
I decided to lead a group along the fire road, while Rich led another part of the group
along the AT. My group branched off, and we found an off trail view of the Valley below.
We soon rejoined at the Catfish Tower, where we took a long break to climb around. The
view on this particular date was clear and far.
We continued on along the AT until we reached the rock outcropping at the other end of
Rattlesnake Swamp Trail, which we followed down to the Mohican Outdoors Center. The
trail was very wet, but most were able to get around it without getting too wet.
At Mohican, we sat around, and I got behind the piano and started playing bits and pieces
of songs I could remember including “Those Magic Changes” from “Grease” and
“Imagine”. Vin of course grabbed the guitar they had there, and we had a little mini concert
as I sang and Vin played.
Heading down Rattlesnake Swamp Trail
Mohican Outdoors Center music time
Music time at Mohican Outdoors Center
Music at Mohican Outdoors Center
Music at Mohican Outdoors Center
Along Coppermines Trail
Along flooded Coppermines Trail
ALong Coppermines Trail
We soon made our way down the Camp Road to the AT, and then Copper Mines Trail,
which was very wet. We walked this trail all the way down to the mines, which I brought
a few to the back of. Crossing streams all along the way was quite a chore, as we had to
use rocks and trees almost every time. The waterfalls were some of the most breathtaking I
had ever seen. Also along this route, I broke out a bottle of Arbor Mist I had brought. I
passed it around a bit, and I know Cindy Kuhn had some, but I don’t remember who else.
After we visited the mine, which everyone loved, we continued down to the trail split to
the lower mine. A few of us ran out to see if we could get inside the lower mine, but it was
locked shut. A lot of people were happy, as they had been on hikes in the past and mine
was the first one where we went inside one of the mines.
Copper Mines Falls
Copper mines falls
Falls on Copper Mines Brook
<Photo 59>
Washed out former route of Copper Mines Trail
Along Copper Mines Trail
Washed out bridge on Copper Mines Trail
<Photo 63>
Along Copper Mines Trail
Along Copper Mines Trail
Along Copper Mines Trail
<Photo 67>
In Pahaquarry Copper Mine
In Pahaquarry Copper Mine
At Pahaquarry Copper Mine
<Photo 71>
Flooded Copper Mines parking lot
Flooded parking lot
Flooded parking lot
The Copper Mines parking area was completely under water, and the river was almost
over the road. We continued on the Old Mine Road north until we soon reached where the
water had overtaken the road. We stopped and gawked for a bit, and Rich offered to lead
the group uphill to the right to make their way around the mess. I decided to push on
through the water. Only Tom Straus joined me in the mess.It seemed fine for a while, as it
was just above my knees, but no more. This soon changed. As we continued, the current
was stronger, and the water level rose to our armpits as we carried our bags on our heads!
Figuring out the next move where Old Mine Road was flooded out.
Snake on Old Mine Road
Snake on Old Mine Road
Snake on Old Mine Road
<Photo 79>
Flooded Old Mine Road
Flooded Old Mine Road
Flooded Old Mine Road
<Photo 83>
Flooded Old Mine Road
Flooded Old Mine Road,
Another snake during the flood!
<Photo 87>
Old barn above Old Mine Road
Above Old Mine Road, Pahaquarry
Praying Mantis that fell on me.
<Photo 91>
Along Old Mine Road
Old Mine Road
Van Campen Glen
<Photo 95>
Van Campen Glen
Van Campen Glen, lower falls
Van Campen Glen
<Photo 99>
Van Campen falls
Van Campen Falls
Van Campen Glen
Van Campen Glen shelf
Van Campen Glen
Van Campen Glen shelf
Van Campen Glen shelf
Flooded Watergate area near Millbrook
Abandoned house near Watergate
Abandoned house near Watergate
Meanwhile, Rich led the rest of the group along some olds roads and through woods
above the road . We were soon separated by a large marsh, and they walked through a
beautiful old barn hidden from view up on the hill. I was able to see the top of it from the
road, though I never had noticed it existed in the past. As I walked, I felt something hit my
head, and I was freaked out to see a stick like green bug on me! Upon closer inspection it
was obviously a Praying Mantis. I carried the little bugger through the deep water to where
the road rose out of it just beyond the Calno School. Amazingly, the Calno School sat just
barely a foot above the water level, while everything around it was completely submerged.
Everyone but Rich made their way back down to the road using an old farm access road,
which was slightly overgrown. Rich opted to come in across part of the swamp, making it
almost the entire way without getting his feet wet...until the last couple steps. It was’nt too
bad and we continued on along the Old Mine Road near the Pahaquarry Flats. We rested
near te Depue Recreation Site and laid down in the road, something we would not often get
the opportunity to do. I was eating lots of Oreo Cookies that Cathy brought.
Soon, we reached Van Campen Glen, where again the water was very high, but the trail
was still accessable. The waterfalls were very pronounced, but not very accessable. I
skipped some stones for a bit, then we moved on. I showed everyone the natural shelf
before we continued on. At the end of the glen, I led everyone out to the Old Mine Road,
while Rich and some of the others stayed down along the Watergate Trail leading into
Millbrook Village. By the time we reached Millbrook and rejoined, no one but Margo
Pellegrino was willing to continue on to do the entire hike! I opted to do a brief section of
the hike rather than the entire route by taking the Watergate Trail out to the abandoned
Cutoff Road which we would follow up to Millbrook/Blairstown Road near where we
started.
As we reached the grassy field section, there was extensive damage as large rocks had
been pushed around in what looked like an effortless fashion. We were able to stay on the
trail south from Millbrook to an abandoned house. I had not been here since I last visited
with Tea Biscuit and Al, and I was happy to finally get a picture of the place before they
rip it down. It’s surprising that it has’nt been ripped down already seeing as though it is so
accessable from nearby roads. Margo and I went inside the left side of the house and
walked through. There was a little junk inside, but we continued through. There was a
breezeway separating the house section from the garage section, which was chock full of
junk.
We continued along the Van Campen Creek to old Cutoff Road near an abandoned bridge
over the stream. We followed the old paved road uphill to Millbrook Blairstown Road,
passing disturbed areas which were probably once homes. We walked the short distance
back up the road to our cars. Though not as far as we had planned originally, the hardships
of the day certainly made up for the distance, and it was a great time.
AT heading south from Millbrook Road
Heading up Catfish Fire Road
Off trail viewpoint near Catfish Fire Road
Catfish Tower
View from Catfish Tower
Catfish Tower
The group on the AT, Kittatinny Ridge
AT at a view point
Along Copper Mines brook
Along Copper Mines Trail
Pahaquarry Copper Mine
Pahaquarry Copper Mine, lower mine
Snake on Old Mine Road
Flooded Old Mine Road
Above Old Mine Road
Praying Mantis; it fell on me while I was walking in the water, Old Mine Road
Van Campen Glen
Van Campen Glen falls
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