The group in Tiger Brook Park
10/30/5
Black River/Chester-Succasunna with Skyler Jermyn, Fred Hafale, Dave Finton, David Noble, and Margot Reybitz
This is still within the hikes I lost the journal entries to since the fire (it's still remarkable how many have been saved) but still, here's what I remember....
Pond in Tiger Brook Park
Pond in Tiger Brook Park, Chester
Tiger Brook Park
Tiger Brook Park
Tiger Brook Park
Tiger Brook Park
Tiger Brook Park
Tiger Brook Park
Tiger Brook Park
Old road in the McGregor Preserve, Chester
McGregor Preserve, Chester
McGregor Preserve map
McGregor Preserve map
Roadside view in Chester Twp
Pottersville Road, Chester
Pottersville Road, Chester
Black River Park
At Kay Environmental Education Center
Kay Environmental Education Center
Cooper Grist Mill
Cooper Mill
Cooper Mill
Cooper MIll
Black River from Patriot's Path
Lake on the Black River
Old dam on the Black River, former CNJ railroad
Abandoned Patriot's Path section near Chester Furnace
DL&W Chester Branch
Abandoned bus near Rt 206, Chester
Abandoned bus along Patriot's Path
Abandoned bus, Patriot's Path
Lackawanna Chester Branch
View from the old Chester Branch
Lackawanna Chester Branch near Ironia
Lackawanna Chester Branch near Succasunna
Horseshoe Lake, Succasunna
After spending just over a montth in California trying to help Cathy straighten out her storage space, I could no longer take it and so I got a flight back to NJ alone. I was'nt sure what would happen, but I hoped Cathy and I would stay together at the time.
I'd been back practically no time when I posted my first hike, Chester to Succasunna which I'd sort of done before, but not in this way.
We began walking in Chester at the Shop Rite (we finished at a Shop rite too) and walked down Rt 206 to Cooper Lane, a lovely dirt road. This took us down hill to the entrance to Tiger Brook Park, a sort of municipal park. We followed the trail system in here along the western side heading south past the pond as I'd done before. I'm not sure how I had it planned out exactly, but we ended up walking the trails up to another connecting preserve, the McGregor Preserve which was near the corner of Old Chester Rd and Rt 206. We came out right there. My map showed that there was a road going in, but it did'nt really exist, and what was left of the road was now part of the trail system. I forget what it was called, I even saved it on my new cell phone (I'd gotten one to stay in touch with Cathy and to call home from out west, I was one of the cellular holdouts. It changed everything after about a month).
From here, we walked Pottersville Road across the other side of Rt 206 to Patriot's Path. I think we probably turned left on the blue blazed Patriot's Path south to Conifer Pass Trail north, but we might have just taken the trail to the right into the Kay Environmental Education Center. I really don't remember. Either way, we ended up in the Kay Center and did a bit of a loop in there on the mowed field trails. We then descended to the Black River. David Noble was drinking water out of an old alchahol bottle which was rather funny.
We continued north on the trail, which soon followed for a time the rights of way of the Landon Mine and Hacklebarney Mine Railroad before reaching the Cooper Grist Mill. From here, we continued on the blue blazed Patriot's Path north. This took us across the former Chester Hill Branch of the CNJ Railroad, then down into a bit of a dip before reaching Furnace Road, the end of the blue blazed section, where it joined the main white blazed Patriot's Path. I think this time actually we did'nt follow the trail, but rather continued west on the Chester Hill Branch across Furnace Road. I think it was here that David N and Margo cut out to head back to Chester following the hill branch. Only one abutment of the rail bridge remained along Furnace Road so going up the other side was easy. We continued on the rail bed to the former junction site with the Hacklebarney Mine Railroad before turning back and following the main white branch of the Patriot's Path which followed it at that point. This turned left off of that rail bed and passed the former Chester Furnace site, then weaved around the woods passing foundations before reaching Furnace Road. It then followed Furnace Road for some time before turning into the woods to the left. Again, we did'nt follow the official trail. There were painted out old blazes going down to the left prior to this other turn, so we followed it. They took us across a really nice puncheon over a wet area that had been totally abandoned. The puncheon ended at a dry area and then the trail with painted out blazes took us to the former Chester Branch of the Lackawanna Railroad and followed it. Soon, the white blazes joined from the right on it's current official route.
We continued ahead on the rail trail which was neat, sometimes with moss growing in humps the way the ties would have been laying. Soon, we found an old school bus parked out in the woods to the south of the trail. Skyler and I of course had to run and go in.
After this, we reached Rt 206. The white blazes ended here for a while and it was barely recognizeable that a rail line ever crossed here. We dashed over, and then fought through some dense weeds on the other side, but then the rail bed opened up nicely. It had been cleared recently, and it was even flagged, but nothing was marked yet. We took it to Hillside Road I think it was, but Bernie's Hillside Lounge, the old tavern, I believe was closed unfortunitely. We continued by cutting in back of the industrial building that stood abandoned, as I'd done before, and then out to the next trail section to the east at the parking area for Black River WMA.
This section was all white blazed and totally clear. I remember it being particularly monotonous on this trip. It's a long section with barely anything to see really. Eventually the white blazes exited to the right as Patriot's Path headed up into Ironia area. We continued on the rail bed with blue blazes and crossed the end of a dead end street, then followed the blazes through a washed out part.
We soon reached Pleasant Hill Road where the trail ended. Ahead was the private section on water authority property that was shown on Morris County Pedestrian user guide as a proposed trail, but it still had no trespassing signs. We continued ahead anyway and agreed we did'nt see any signs. The right of way was clear and wide as an access road.
Just before reaching the end of the section at Succassunna we crossed a bridge and reached a giant chain link gate. We had to get through somehow. I think Fred got through first, then Skyler and I. Dave was coming through last when I noticed a police car was the next one coming on the road! He stopped and waved for me to cross in front of him, which I did, and it gave Dave just enough time to get through the fence before being seen. Amazing. We were already all trying to think of our excuses as to why we would be in there, and most all of us were thinking "accidently dropped camera through" was the best idea, but we did'nt need to use it!
On the other side of the road, we took the rail bed out, tracks resumed, and we paralleled Horseshoe Lake. Once out to Rt 46 we turned left and walked it back to the Shop Rite. Fred and Dave went ahead while Skyler and I dilly dallied around and went to either McDonalds or Burger King, I can't remember which, and played I think it was some new Mario Game, like Nintendo Vs. Capcom or something. We had fun either way before heading back.
I remember this hike being particularly painful for Skyler and I because we'd both taken a month without hiking. Still, we were back and things would become easy again.
Horseshoe Lake, Succasunna
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