Hike #219 5/28/6
The group at Pochuck Quagmire
5/28/6
My next hike would once again take us to the norther border of NJ with Orange CountyNY on the next section of the Appalachian Trail and sorrounding trails.
Crossing a stile from Rt 94 on the AT
Along the AT in Vernon Valley
I was joined bypast participants Fred Hafale, as well as “Lil Kyle” Gruter-Curham who had last hikedwith Tea Biscuit and I in the Walpack section of the Kittatinnies years before! Kyle’sgirlfriend Julie Stroehmaier also joined, as well as newcomers Russel Moyer, and Robinand Susan Dawson and their two dogs. Kyle also brought his dog, Petie with him again this time. I was lucky enough to have Kyle drive to the beginning, as I still had no vehicle. Webegan walking from Rt 94 just south of the NY state line on the AT west, which isactually northwest at this point even though it’s the soutbbound AT. We immediatelywalked across a field where we had to dodge huge piles of cow pie.
Crossing a field in Vernon Valley NJ
Kyle and Julie tookturns holding Petie’s leash. We soon crossed a long puncheon over a wet area, something that we would do more onthis hike than on any hike to date.
Wawayanda Mountain from the AT
Crossing Pochuck Quagmire
Crossing Pochuck Quagmire
Pochuck Creek bridge
Pochuck Creek bridge
Pochuck Creek bridge
Pochuck Creek bridge area
Pochuck Quagmire
Pochuck Quagmire
Pochuck Quagmire, NJ
Pochuck area crossing on the AT
AT on Pochuck Mountain
Pochuck Mountain, east side
View from west side of Pochuck Mountain
Pochuck Mountain view
Pochuck Mountain, AT
AT view on Pochuck Mountain
Pochuck Mountain
Atop Pochuck Mountain
Pochuck Mountain view of Wallkill Valley
We continued west crossing Wawayanda Creek onCanal Road, an abandoned road which was now a trail. As soon as we crossed were-entered the woods. We eventually came into the wide and famous Pochuck Quagmire.The section of the AT ahead had been worked on for years and was now open to public. Along section of boardwalk over the swamp lay before us, with a great suspension bridgeover the Pochuck Creek. The scenery around us seemed like it was out of anothercountry. For the most part, the boardwalk was out in the open and exposed. We soonreached the end of the boardwalk at Rt 517. We crossed and walked on another shortpuncheon before entering the woods and beginning the ascent of Pochuck Mountain. We soon crossed Rt 565 at Glenwood just north of the old Glenwood School house. Abranch of the Lehigh and New England Railroad ended near here but I could not see anyremnants. We continued to the east side of Pochuck Mountain, and followed a side roadup hill to the right because Robin and Susan said they knew of some swimming ponds, butthis was not the correct road. We came to a camp and had to turn back. We continued onto the next road, after crossing some rocky outcroppings, and then headed north. Thewoods road took us down hill a bit and to the left, eventually leading us out ot a pond.The bugs were terrible here, biting us relentlessly. I decided to swim to the middle of thepond and back before we left. We headed back to the AT and continued west. We came to a beautiful view of the Wallkill Refuge along the way, and took a long breakhere. When Susan and Robin caught up, they decided to turn back; they had planned onnot doing the entire hike from the beginning. We had missed the “Great Wall of Pochuck”which is a stone row supposedly large enough to drive a compact car across.
On top of Pochuck Mountain
Abandoned house where we got water along the Appalachian Trail on Pochuck Mountain, Glenwood
Trail map at Glenwood along the AT
The drowned lands of the Wallkill Valley
AT in Wallkill Valley
Abandoned LNE rail bed in Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge
LNE rail bed, Liberty Loop Trail at Wallkill NWR
View of Pochuck Mt. from Wallkill NWR
View in Wallkill NWR
Pochuck Republic in NY
Pochuck Republic in NY
Road crossing on the AT
Pochuck Quagmire
Pochuck Quagmire
Pochuck Quagmire
Pochuck Quagmire
Pochuck Creek bridge
Crossing former LHR railroad in Vernon Valley
Vernon Valley along the AT
Vernon Valley approaching Wawayanda on the AT
Wawayanda Mountain from the AT below.
Fred, Russ, Kyle, Julie, and I continued descending from Pochuck Mountain. Before wereached the next road crossing, Kyle, Julie, and I were all thirsty and running low onwater, when out of nowhere there was a sign and a side trail saying there was water.Expecting to find a spring, we were surprised to find that the trail led to the rear of anabandoned house where we were able to use the hose spigot! We refilled and were happilyon our way. We continued down entering the Wallkill Refuge and crossing anotherpuncheon. I recall Kyle climbing a tree in this section, and also picking mushrooms. We soon reached an open area on the L&NE Railroad right of way where we had left offon the previous hike to Swartzwood. We continued north on the LNE which at this pointwas part of the Liberty Loop Trail. We were a bit concerned because dogs were notallowed on this trail. Soon, we reached the road and turned right. The railroad ahead wasovergrown and soon crossed a field, so we opted not to try to follow instead trying to findparallel roads. We continued to the next intersection and turned left to Liberty’s Corners. Iwas surprised that so many of the houses had very high weedy grass that had not beenmowed at all. We talked to a couple who were giving away a microwave I believe it was. Iwas originally planning on finding the next walkeable piece of the LNE line, but insteadwe headed into the woods a dirt road in an area designated as a preserve. The condition of the road was good leading me to believe that it was to be used for a newdevelopment, but we did not find any construction areas. We headed uphill, and Fred andRuss got way ahead of us. At one point, we thought we had gone the wrong way. Kyle,Julie, and I continued down a series of woods roads within the Pochuck Republic. Weeventually came ot where we saw some vehicles, and there were some tents and such setup. I was nervous at first, but the people came out to talk to us and they were very nice.They were illegally camping, but not causing anyone any problems. They gave usdirections back to the AT, but had not seen Fred and Russ. I was a bit worried. Wecontinued on past the lake we stopped at earlier and reached the AT. We met up withFred and Russ here, and we decided to walk the AT back instead of a different route. Kyleclimbed a couple trees along the way. When we were re-crossing the Pochuck Creek Bridge, there was a giant black snake basking, but it retreated into the boards. We spent a while trying to see it but could'nt. By the time we reached the field we crossed at the beginning it was completey full ofcows, which was an interesting experiance. Kyle and Julie droe me home at the end.
Pics by Mike H and Fred Hafale (FH), and here's a link to them all followed by descriptions...
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/sneezehorse/hike219%205-28-6/
1.) Crossing a stile along Rt 94 on the AT into cow fields (FH)
2.) Julie and Kyle along the AT
3.) View of Wawayanda Mountain from the AT in Vernon Valley
4.) Susan and Robin Dawson with their dogs on an AT puncheon in Vernon Valley
5.) The group on the long boardwalks over the Pochuck Quagmire on the AT
6.) Over the Pochuck Swamp (FH)
7.) Pochuck Creek Bridge on the AT (FH)
8.) Russ Moyer and Julie Strohmaier on the Pochuck Creek Bridge
9.) Pochuck Creek Bridge
10.) Pochuck Quagmire, taken from the Pochuck Creek Bridge
11.) Pochuck Quagmire
12.) Crossign the Pochuck Quagmire
13.) Boardwalks meandering across the Pochuck Quagmire
14.) Crossing Rt 517 on the AT (FH)
15.) Julie and I on Pochuck Mountain (FH)
16.) Somewhat obscured view from Pochuck Mountain on the east side
17-18.) View of the Wallkill Valley (FH)
19.) Russ, Julie, Kyle, and I with Petie at the overlook on west Pochuck Mountain (FH)
20.) View of Wallkill Valley
21.) View northwest of the Wallkill Valley and Shawangunk Mountains
22.) Kyle, Julie, Russ, and Fred on Pochuck Mountain at the viewpoint
23.) Similar view shot with me in it
24.) View southwest of Wallkill Valley
25.) Stopping for a water break in the back of a house on Pochuck Mountain near Glenwood
26.) The house where we got water, now unoccupied
27.) A map of the Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge (FH)
28.) Crossing a puncheon in Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge on the AT
29.) Kyle, Julie, and I on the former Lehigh and New England Railroad right of way (FH)
30.) Fred and Russ on the LNE right of way, Wallkill NWR
31.) Lovely farmlands as seen from the LNE grade in Wallkill NWR
32.) Another scene of the farm (FH)
33.) Kyle climbing a tree in the "Pochuck Republic"
34.) Kyle climbing a vine on Pochuck Mountain
35.) Another AT road crossing on the return trip
36.) Back on the Pochuck Quagmire
37.) Pochuck Quagmire
38.) Fred and Russ ahead of us on the puncheons, Pochuck Quagmire
39.) Pochuck Creek Bridge (FH)
40.) Pochuck Quagmire puncheons (FH)
41.) Russ on the Pochuck Creek Bridge (FH)
42.) Kyle, Julie, and Petie crossing former Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad tracks, Vernon Valley NJ
43.) Cows along the AT (FH)
44.) Crossing the puncheons through the cow fields
45.) Wawayanda Mountain from the AT (FH)
46.) COWS!!!
Cows in Vernon Valley NJ
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