Hike #267 2/4/7
More fun reminiscing...so interesting to read these old hike journals. This one was my first hike with SHELLY!!!!!
2/4/7
Dover-Morristown with Fred Hafale, "Amish Paul" Hassler, and Shelly Janes
North end of Hedden Park
Speedwell
Speedwell
Road walking in Dover
Along the streets in Dover NJ
Hedden Park
Hedden Park
This hike would be another one in Morris County, covering interesting places between Dover and Morristown, and covering trail sections I'd been wanting to scout out. I met Fred first, at the end point, Speedwell Lake in Morristown. It was brutally cold and windy, so the two of us sat in our own cars for a bit, then I went up to the road to help directy anyone that might show up. At nine o clock on the dot, Amish Paul pulled in. We did'nt hang out long; Fred and Amish Paul piled into the Helbingmobile and we began driving to Dover. I took a wrong turn at one point, but we eventually got there. When we arrived at Dover, we found that another hiker, newcomer Shelly Janes was waiting there for us. She called me on my cell phone, and told us she was in a blue Mini Cooper, so we soon found her. Out in the open in Dover, it was insanely cold. I had no hat and no gloves, which was a big mistake. I did wear my long black trenchcoat, which helped block wind a bit, but not nearly enough. We began walking from the station, and immediately turned left heading up hill on a road. Unfortunitely, I was directionally challenged, and this was not the route we should have taken to get to our next destination, Hedden Park. After walking a bit up the road and asking a few people for directions (they all spoke only spanish), we made two right turns and ended up at the park near the train station parking area, making an extra loop.
Crossing the CCM campus
Hedden Park, Dover
Pharmacy near CCM where I stopped to buy a hat
CCM
Trail at CCM
CCM
On the CCM campus
CCM
CCM
Along the Randolph Trails
Randolph Twp.
We continued out toward Rt 46, and headed up hill after crossing Jackson Brook, on a couple roads leading to Hedden Park. Once in the park, we crossed a pedestrian bridge over the brook, and followed trails upstream. I was surprised how nice it was in the little gorge, with very large rocks. Indian Falls, a small waterfall, was rather forgettable, as it was more of a cascade than anything else. It was nice being in the woods, as the freezing cold with biting winds out on the road made it almost unbeareable. We continued upstream on the Jackson Brook Trail, crossing one road along the way.
In an abandoned building in Randolph Twp
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Giant stationary item kids
Randolph Twp.
These kids had giant stationary items
Giant stationary item kids
Giant stationary item kids
Giant stationary item kids
green
Abandoned building
Randolph Twp, found a bike
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Randolph Twp.
Along Patriot's Path
Patriot's Path, James Andrews Park
Patriot's Path in James Andrews Park
Clyde Potts Reservoir
Clyde Potts Reservoir
Near Clyde Potts Reservoir
Clyde Potts Reservoir
Clyde Potts Reservoir
Clyde Potts Reservoir
Clyde Potts Reservoir spillway
Spillway at Clyde Potts Reservoir
Spillway at Clyde Potts Reservoir
Patriot's Path in Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Abandoned in Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Out house, Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Out house, Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Out house, Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Abandoned in Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Abandoned in Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Abandoned in Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Abandoned in Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Abandoned in Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Abandoned in Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Abandoned in Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Dismal Brook
Dismal Brook
Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Dismal Harmony Natural Area
Patriot's Path in Menham area
Patriot's Path, former Rockaway Valley Railroad
Patriot's Path on the rail bed, site of Watnong Station
Site of Watnong Station on RV railroad
Historic marker on RV railroad
historic marker
Along the Patriot's Path east of Watnong Station site, entering Morristown
Whippany River view
Former railway bridge site
Former RV railroad cut
Filled in Rockaway Valley Railroad bridge
The trail continued on and took us out to Randolph Ave. We turned left and continued out to Rt 513 and turned right. I was planning on walking through a development, but I was'nt sure we'd find a way through, despite the fact that my map showed some sort of pedestrian connector path between separate sections. We crossed Rt 10 soon, and there was a CVS Pharmacy store on a hill on the southwest side of the intersection, so I ran as hard as I could to the store to look for a hat. Inside, I found one for $5.99. I thought it was a steep price, but my ears were red and so cold that I had to give in and buy it. I also got some candies. Amish Paul and Shelly both came in as well while Fred waited outside. It was an immediate relief walking with the hat on. We crossed 513 and continued onto the campus of the Community College of Morris County. There were some nice paved paths, and even a parcourse circuit, but it was far to cold for me to do exercises at different stations. We continued on the paths, then walked across a field to an old house on the campus, once the landowners farmhouse as Shelly told us. We turned left on what I believe was Center Grove Road. We continued on roads to the Randolph Township Trail system. Along the roads, Amish Paul and I kicked a tennis ball around, sometimes into traffic accidently, until we lost it. The trail took us onto an old farm road alongside an old building. Amish Paul, Shelly, and I went into the building to look around. There was an old tractor and other knick knacks. We continued on, and the trail split in a couple directions. There was a group of teenagers passing by, filming some sort of movie for a project. One guy had an enourmous pencil and a mustache drawn on his face. We thought it was quite funny. Continueing on, the trail seemed to disappear from where it was on the map. We ended up walking along a field, and then through weeds and into the woods. We eventually emerged onto the trail and turned right, which was a mistake. The trail led us back in the direction we came from, and we realized that we should have come that way to begin with. We turned around and continued on the other way. The trail took us down hill on it's improved gravel path to near a ball field where Fred and Shelly ate lunch. After eating, we continued through Brundage Park where the trail led us parallel with Church Road, then crossed the Sussex Turnpike. We continued through woods to where Patriot's Path blazes resumed. We soon turned left onto the Patriot's Path on a narrow footpath, whereas earlier we were on wider improved trails with crushed stone surface in Randolph Township. We continued down hill, and the Patriot's Path kept turning left and right crossing a power line. Fred got me to just continue on the power line because it would be quicker. I figured I'd walk the trail next time. We continued out and reached Woodland Road along Clyde Potts Resevoir. The trail's blazes ended, and only tape blazes continued to the road. There was once creek crossing, but it was easy. We continued along the road, with nice views of the resevoir, then turned onto a lane that said "private" on it. There was an entrance to the Dismal Harmony Natural area here, and the next section of Patriot's Path, and we continued on. There were a couple abandoned buildings which were apparently at one time part of an old scout camp. Shelly and I went into the larger building to have a look. The roof was collapsing, but there was a nice fireplace inside. We continued through Dismal Harmony crossing a nice little bridge, then emerging in an area near Brookside, which was probably Main Street. We continued south, over another little bridge, and came out on the former Rockaway Valley Railroad and turned left. We followed the railbed, which closely followed the trail on to Lewis Morris Park where we crossed the Whippany River and continued up and over a hillside. Amish Paul was falling behind a bit, and while we waited for him, we threw a ball we found for a dog. We soon reached Whitehead Road I think it was, and continued on. This part was not the railroad bed, though it was certainly flat enough. The railbed joined Patriot's Path somewhere along the way, but it was hard to say exacty where since the line had been abandoned since 1916. We made our way to Speedwell Lake quickly, and though it was very cold, Shelly and I took a bunch of pictures around the lake. I got a shot of where the little stone bridge used to be over the river, which was still in place as recently as 2002. Amish Paul drove Shelly and I back to our cars. It was so cold my skin hurt for a couple days afterwards!
Photos...here's a link to all of them followed by descriptions of what they are...
http://s270.photobucket.com/albums/jj93/sneezehorse1/hike267%202-4-7/
Patriot's path at Spedwell Lake
Speedwell Lake
Speedwell Lake
Patriot's Path at Speedwell Lake
Patriot's Path at Speedwell Lake
Patriot's Path at Speedwell
Patriot's Path at Speedwell
Bridge at Speedwell
Speedwell
Speedwell
Speedwell dam
Speedwell dam
Speedwell dam
Mill ruins at Speedwell Lake
Mill ruins at Speedwell Lake
bridge at Speedwell
1.) View of the parking area at Speedwell Lake (FH)2.) The dam at Speedwell Lake where we met Sunday morning (FH)3.) Walking a road in the Dover area toward Hedden Park4.) Shelly and I heading toward Hedden Park (FH)5.) View along the Jackson Brook in Hedden Park (FH)6.) Shelly and Amish Paul at the Jackson Brook Bridge and a road in Hedden Park7.) Amish Paul on the Jackson Brook Trail, Hedden County Park8.) Fred and Amish Paul on the Jackson Brook Trail9.) Amish Paul in the CVS along Rt 10 near Morris County Community College10.) CCM entrance (FH)11.) Walking the trails on the CCM campus12.) CCM campus13.) Crossing some ball fields at CCM, Randolph Township14-15.) Fred and I checking out our maps at the Dalrymple House, Randolph (SJ)16.) A tracktor in one of the Randolph twp parks (SJ)17.) Shelly and Fred at an old barn along one of the Randolph Trails18.) Some of the junk in the old building (SJ)19.) Amish Paul with some old vehicle near the barn20.) More of Amish Paul on the old tracktor (FH)21-22.) Paul and the tractor (SJ)23.) View inside an old barn in a Randolph park24.) Shelly with some junk that was in the old barn25.) View out of the old barn26.) View inside the old barn27.) Amish Paul and I inside the old barn (SJ)28.) Me outside the gate for the Randolph Trail (FH)29.) Entrance to the Randolph Trails (FH)30.) View outside the old barn (SJ)31.) Another view outside the old barn32.) Yet another view outside the barn area (FH)33.) Me at the Randolph Trails entrance (FH)34.) Shelly and I at the trails entrance (FH)35.) Amish Paul in the old barn (SJ)36.) More in the old barn (SJ)37.) Paul in the barn (SJ)38.) Walking on one of the Randolph Trails (FH)39.) More on the Randolph Trails (SJ)40.) An old jeep along a Randolph Trail (FH)41-43.) Some crazy kids with a giant pencil! (SJ)44.) More of the kids filming their movie with the pencil (FH)45.) One more of the group of kids making their weird movie with the pencil46.) Another abandoned building along one of the Randolph Trails47.) Plants along a Randolph Trail (SJ)48.) Me trying to ride an old bike we found (SJ)49.) Along a Randolph Trail (SJ)50.) Making our way off trail in Randolph Township51.) More on Randolph Trails (SJ)52.) I think this is where we came out to Sussex Turnpike...(FH)53.) View from one of the Randolph Trails (SJ)54.) I think this is Mt Freedom park (FH)55.) Hiking the Patriot's Path/Power line near James Andrews Memorial Park (SJ)56.) Fred on the power line57.) Shelly and Amish Paul on the power line58.) View of Clyde Potts Resevoir59.) More along Clyde Potts Resevoir60.) Walking future Patriot's Path route along Clyde Potts Resevoir61.) Clyde Potts Resevoir62.) More of the resevoir (SJ)63.) The resevoir again (FH)64.) The outlet of the Clyde Potts Resevoir (SJ)65.) Another view of the resevoir outlet66.) The dam on Clyde Potts Resevoir67.) Entering Dismal Harmony Natural area on Patriot's Path (SJ)68-69.) An old out house near the old scout building in Dismal Harmony (SJ)70.) The outside of the old scout building71.) Shelly with the old outhouse at Dismal Harmony72.) Fireplace in the old scout building73.) Rear of the old building (SJ)74.) Me alongside the old building (SJ)75.) Side of the old building (SJ)76.) Front of the building (SJ)77.) Me inside the old shack (SJ)78.) Along the Patriot's Path, Dismal Harmony (SJ)79.) More of the old building (SJ)80.) Patriot's Path brook crossing (SJ)81.) View along the Dismal Harmony Brook (FH)82.) Amish Paul crossing the brook in Dismal Harmony (FH)83.) Shelly and I along the Patriot's Path in Dismal Harmony (FH)84.) Dismal Harmony Natural Area entrance (SJ)85.) Weird shaped vine along Patriot's Path (SJ)86.) View along Patriot's Path west of Morristown87.) View of the site of Watnong Station along the Rockaway Valley Railroad bed88.) Amish paul and Shelly near the Watnong Station site89.) Historic marker for Rockaway Valley Railroad along Patriot's Path nearing Speedwell90.) Yet another view of the sign (SJ)91.) Fred at the site of an old railroad bridge over the Whippany River west of Speedwell92.) View from I think the Lake Road bridge looking downstream on the Whippany93.) Site of the Rockaway Valley Railroad bridge over Whippany River from Lake Road94.) The old railroad cut near former underpass of Lake Road95.) The arch of the former underpass, now filled in, where the railway would have gone under the road near Speedwell Lake96.) Shelly and Fred along Patriot's Path along Speedwell Lake97.) Speedwell Lake from Patriot's Path98.) Another view of Speedwell Lake (SJ)99.) Me, Fred, and Amish Paul on the Patiot's Path, Speedwell Lake (SJ)100.) Fred and Amish Paul on the trail, Speedwell Lake101.) Patriot's Path marker and the Speedwell Dam (SJ)102.) Another one of the Patriot's Path marker (SJ)103.) Speedwell Ave bridge104.) another one of the building at Speedwell Lake Dam105.) Shelly taking pictures along Speedwell Lake106.) Speedwell Dam (SJ)107.) Another one of the Speedwell Dam (SJ)108-109.) Building ruin at Speedwell parking area (SJ)110.) The Speedwell Dam111.) Another one of the ruins at the Speedwell Lake parking area112.) Site of the old bridge, in front of current speedwell bridge113.) The dam again
Mill ruins at Speedwell Lake
Speedwell Lake dam
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