Hike #182; Culver's Gap to Andover

 Hike #182

At the farm stand in Culver's Inlet

7/31/5

Culver's Gap-Andover with Dave Finton, Julie Satmari, John Spriridon, and Sue Bickford-Martin

 

Yet another one I've lost the original journal to...

Old tower in Bear Swamp Wildlife Management Area

Old rail car in Branchville, north end of the Sussex Branch

Sussex Branch bridge in Branchville

But here's what I remember...

We met in the morning at the Andover NJ parking area for the Sussex Branch Trail. Joining me here were John, Julie and Dave. We also saw Sue Bickford Martin here, who I'd met on a hike from Tranquility to Oxford in the fall of 2004. She was biking the trail on this occasion, and we'd meet up with her later.

Along the Sussex Branch in Augusta

We shuttled cars north to Culver's Gap and hiked the AT south to Acropolis Trail as I'd done my previous visit. We followed the trail to Rt 206 and road walked south. At Culver's Inlet we stopped at a flea market and Dave bought something, I don't remember what, and paid for it saying if he got back in time he'd stop and pick it up on his way. Fortunitely, he was able to get what he bought because we finished early enough.

John having some corn in Augusta

We continued and stopped by a farmer's market. John always likes farmers markets, being a big fan of farm produce. I also went off the road into some state WMA land and checked out an old water tower.  We then continued along roads into Branchville where we picked up the former Sussex Branch. The first part of this rail line was not yet a trail from Rt 630 to Mill Street. Still, we crossed an old bridge next to a rail car, then came out to Mill street. There used to be a bridge here too, but it's right next to a road bridge so it did'nt matter. We got on the rail bed and followed it under Rt 206 and continued south. John picked some sweet corn along the way.

Fields in Augusta

Dry Creek in Augusta

This section of the trail was not really well developed yet, with some washouts along the creek and some sections with ballast rock, but I liked it, it was nice. I think we met Sue on this section where she was getting ready to turn back. She joined us for the remainder of the hike, following us with her bike.

Fields near Lafayette

The Sussex Branch north of Newton

I think when we got to Lafayette we left the trail to the left for a bit through a park and stopped at a little luncheonette store before returning to the trail south bound. After that we continued south to Warbasse Junction site, crossed the Paulins Kill Valley Trail and continued south toward Newton. Just before Newton the official trail route had been taken off of the most recent rail bed over the Newton Meadows and along the road, which was the earlier alignment of the Sussex Branch...but that's more boring.

Headwaters of the Paulins Kill in Newton Meadows

Sussex Branch bridge site in Newton Meadows

At Newton Meadows

Newton Meadows

Swampy wetlands in Kittatinny Valley State Park from the Sussex Branch

I think their reasoning was the missing beam bridge in the middle of the meadows which was the headwaters of the Paulins Kill River. It's a beautiful area that I simply could not leave out of the hike. Even though it's a huge meadow, the water at this stream crossing is freezing cold because it bubbles out of the ground right next to the trail. If you were to walk to where other little brooks feed it, their temperature is much much warmer. We also watched a plane doing stunts over the meadow, probably preparing for the upcoming Sussex air show.

We continued south into Newton and followed the unofficial trail sections. I think we stopped for food on the south side of town too, probably at Quick Check or a pizza place. Then we followed as best we could the rail bed to where the official trail picked back up. We continued on through cuts and rockier terrain to Andover through Kittatinny Valley State Park.