Hike #155
As I post this today I am very lucky to still have this journal entry. On 8/2/10 my home in Port Colden burned down and all of my cds including the ones I had my entries backed up on were lost. Fortunitely, I'd passed out copies of the discs to regular participants, and Rich Pace and other hikers had opies of many of them. This next bunch Rich just delivered to me!
The group beginning in Hainesburg
11/21/4
For my next hike, I felt I was ready to post the Lower Water Gap hike for the AMC to try out, which would turn out to bite me in the butt in the end. I had the group meet as always at the Paulins Kill Valley Trail parking area in Hainesburg. Joining me this time were past participants, Tom Straus, Gerry Martiniak, and Rich Wells, and newcomers Kourtney Batchelder, {name unknown}, and Dr. Robert Blynn. At the meeting point, Bob Lynn and {name unknown} seemed a bit surprised that the hike was indeed 22.5 miles; they had thought I posted that mileage to keep away less experianced hikers! We headed out from Hainesburg under the viaduct, then to the Lehigh and New England right of way out to Colombia.
Rail car in Slateford PA
Lower Caldeno Creek Falls along the DL&W tracks
View from Winona Cliff, Mt. Minsi
Along abandoned Totts Gap Road
Along Lackawanna Cutoff, Slateford PA
Along Lackawanna Cutoff, Slateford PA
Atop the Delaware Viaduct, Lackawanna Cutoff
No one had a problem with the through truss bridge over the Paulins Kill or the thick weeds. {name unknown} was telling me how he joined the AMC to meet hot chicks. We stopped in at the TA station for food as always before heading across the footbridge to Portland. We continued north on the active tracks, and when we reached the site of the junction with the Lackawanna Cutoff, there was a train parked on a siding which I decided to climb. Tom followed me up as well. I ran across the top, tripping a bit, but luckily not falling off. Bob Blynn was a bit concerned about the distance, so I let him know if he wanted to cut out he could do so here. He opted not to, and we continued on, visiting the old tower at Slateford Junction on the way. We walked the tracks north through the Water Gap, passing Caldeno Falls on the left, which everyone was impressed with as I recall. We continued up from under Rt 80 to the AT, and hiked up Mt Minsi. At the lookout on Winona Cliff there was a train moving along the tracks we were just on. I related some of the history of the area. Bob Blynn commented that I did not keep the group together well enough, and also made a statement about being the oldest one on the trip, when in fact Rich Wells chimed in that he was about ten years older as I recall! Blynn also commented to me that I should not lead hikes that are as long as the ones I lead. Being a Pychiatrist, Blynn was asked by Kourtney if he could give his diagnosis as to why I am the way I am, and he commented conceitedly “He’d have to pay me first”. We continued across the ridge, and down through Totts Gap, first visiting the cave, on the way to the roads. By the time we reached Slateford, we opted to cut out the Arrow Island Trail part, and Kourtney called for a ride home as she was in pain. Dr. Blynn also got a ride from here, first telling me he did not plan on coming on any more of my hikes. This ended up being the most unpleasant experiance I had ever had with a participant. I also felt he had a problem with my knowlege of area history. Whatever the problem was, he did not return for any more of my hikes, and is as of this writing the only person I’ve decided to keep off my hikes anyway. After saying our goodbyes, I thought it would be good to walk the Lackawanna Cutoff directly from the road to Slateford, regardless of weeds. We ended up going through someone’s yard as well as thick brush before we had to make our way back out to Rt 611. We had to bushwhack back in to get to the Delaware Viaduct. We crossed the Delaware Viacuct and made our way out to Hainesburg where Gerry and Rich decided to cut out rather than go through the Viaduct. Tom and I climbed down the third manhole into the chambers, through each arch back to the southeast side of the bridge. I waved at the other three below when they reached the road. We quickly climbed through the viaduct and returned to our cars. I believe we may have gone to Port Mart for chocolate milk too, as Tom and I love that stuff. In the days after this hike, I got an e mail from Chris Rapacki, former AMC chair. Apparently, Dr Blynn had attended a social event and saw Andrea Deaton, the new AMC chapter chair, and reported me as being irresponsible, not keeping the group together, trespassing, boarding a train, and more! I had to explain to Chris the attitude he had for the entire course of the hike, and he of course understood. Thus the end of my worst experiance with any hiker, but still a good hike.
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