Hike #301
The group on Mt Mohican
The amount of fun we had on this hike by far made up for how much hike 300 sucked!
8/19/7 Pahaquarry Mines-Portland-Buttsville with "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, "DJ Ray" Cordts, Skyler Jermyn, Christina Manley, Jim Delotto, Jason Itell, "Major Tom" Conroy, Ira Rubinstein, and Larry Butler
Pahaquarry Scout Camp site ruins
A forgotten Copper Mine at Pahaquarry off trail
Inside an old copper mine
In an old copper mine
Near the copper mines
Inside another copper mne
Copper mine
Copper mine
Copper mine
Along Kaiser Road Trail
View from Appalachian Trail toward Wallpack Bend
Walpack Bend from the AT
Walpack Bend from Mt. Mohican
On Mt. Mohican
Mt Mohican view
Mushroom
For this trip we returned to my familiar area of the Delaware Water Gap to do a hike beginning at the Pahaquarry Mines. It was tough for me, as my brother Alex got married the night before and I was totally knocked out from the reception! I had been dancing and drinking all night and of course was up way late. I rode up with Skyler, and met everyone at the Portland-Colombia Footbridge. Joining me this time were of course Skyler, "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, DJ Ray Cordts, Christina Manley, Ira Rubenstein, "Major Tom" Conroy, Jason Itell, Larry Butler, and Jim Delotto. We began walking from the parking area along Copper Mines Trail and ignored the lower trail, heading up to near the Kaiser Road where I led everyone off trail to a lesser known mine hole that only goes in a short distance. We hung out for a bit, then turned back to Copper Mines Trail heading a short distance to the next mine, just off the trail, and went in to the back of it. After this break we continued up the trail, crossing over the Coppermines Brook where a new little bridge had been added next to the old one from the washout a couple years before. We headed up the trail to the connector trail to kaiser Road and turned here. We headed out to Kaiser Road and up hill to Raccoon Ridge from there. Once on the AT, we continued on the southbound trail to Mt Mohican where we took a nice long break and admired the view. We could see as far north as the Catskills amazingly on this clear day. The Shawangunks were also very visible. We continued on through Tocks Swamp to Sunfish Pond where we took the Turquoise Trail to a nice swimming spot.
Breaking at Sunfish Pond, Turquoise Trail
At Sunfish Pond
Sunfish Pond
Sunfish Pond
Sunfish Pond break
Near Sunfish Pond, Sunfish Pond Fire Road
Turquoise Trail
Turquoise Trail
Turquoise Trail
Mountain Trail
Along Mountain Trail
Mountain Trail
Mountain Trail heading into Camp Taylor
Though it was not as hot outside, it was still nice enough to take a swim, and the water was'nt unbearably cold. We swam out about halfway into pond, then came back and warmed up a bit. We continued on along Turquoise Trail out to the Sunfish Pond Fire Road and across. We saw an arabic couple and child, and the woman was wearing full coverings, all black. Wyatt thought it was the Grim Reaper. We headed down across Dunnfield Creek and onto the ridge to Mt Tammany Fire Road, which we followed to Mountain Trail, a trail I had never followed that led down the ridge to the south, with a sign pointing in either direction. I had assumed this trail led down to Camp Taylor, but was'nt sure. It led steeply down hill with no blazes, and eventually reached a camp area. We wandered through on a long series of roads, and there were some campers with porches that appeared to be rather permanant. When we reached the exit onto Mt Pleasant Road, we turned left but some of the group went into a store. They kind of gave it away that we'd come in off the mountain, but fortunitely we did'nt get charged. We continued on along the road, and now some of us were far behind. Soon, Wyatt and I found bicycles in a large dumpster, and I climbed up and pulled one off. To my surprise, it actually moved! I got on it and pedaled on the flat tires as quickly as I could, and Wyatt grabbed another one. As I rode, Tea Biscuit pulled up in his Sonoma pickup truck, and went on to pick everyone else up. I rode down a hill very fast past the rest of the group waiting by a bridge, and they looked rather surprised! I continued on up hill, and then began down another far too fast to control, and I wiped out a bit, but fortunitely landed safely. I abandoned the bike next to another dumpster alon the left side of the road.
What? In Camp Taylor
Tea Biscuit take some of the group for a shortcut in Hainesburg
Tea Biscuit offers a mean ride
We found bikes!
We found bikes in a dumpster heading down into Hainesburg
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
Viaduct
In Hainesburg
Paulins Kill Valley Trail
Colombia Lake
Passing through a pipe under Rt 80
In Colombia
Del Water Gap from Portland Colombia Foot Bridge
Del Water Gap from Portland Colombia Foot Bridge
Portland Colombia Foot Bridge in Portland
Tea Biscuit went blowing by us quickly with the rest of the crew in the bed of his truck! He took them down to Hainesburg and parked along the Paulins Kill Valley Trail while Jason, Wyatt, and I continued walking. Wyatt appeared coming down the hill from behind us at an insane rate of speed where I thought for sure he would wipe out. It was fortunite he did'nt. We continued down and turned right on Rt 94 briefly in Hainesburg, then left on Station Road across the Paulins Kill on the two old truss bridges to the Paulins Kill Valley Trail, former NYS&W Railroad, following it west to the Paulins Kill Viaduct of the Lackawanna Cutoff. Most of us went up into the thing, and climbed through the first three arches like we usually do, and met a bunch of kids inside who with chatted with for a while. We then climbed to the top and headed back. Ira was by far the most amazed by the structure, this being his first time through. He planned on bringing his son back. We climbed down and continued on the trail west to the Warrington stone bridge, and then beyond. Tea Biscuit and a few others continued on the road while some of us stayed on the rail bed to the next road at the endtrance of Colombia Lake Wildlife Management Area. We continued on the right of way along the lake, then under a pipe below Rt 80 and out to Rt 46 through the person's yard we'd always crossed. We headed up 46 to the footbridge a few drivers were shuttled back to their cars at the mines. Ira had a long drive home and decided to leave. The rest of us crossed the footbridge, got some chocolate milk, and Jason, Wyatt and I took a swim in the Delaware out to the first pier and admired the view. We soon headed down to the Portland Diner and got a table, but waited for everyone to get back from getting their cars to order. We ate our meals, laughed and carried on. Tea Biscuit and I split a pitcher of beer, and drank it directly from the pitcher! It was rather funny.After eating, everyone left except Wyatt and I who continued on to walk the DL&W right of way southbound more. We were able to see enough along the tracks, and even across the trestle at Delaware. It was the last day of Knowlton Riverfest, but it was already closed by the time Wyatt and I went by. We continued south along Rt 46 and opted to just stay on the highway because it would be so difficult to see and to continue on along the right of way. We continued down to King Cole Grove, where I had to face nature's worst call and hide behind the King Cole Grove sign. After a while here, we continued on through Bridgeville and stopped at Hot Dog Johnny's. Amish Paul was going to meet us here, but he was nowhere to be found. I was feeling crappy, as I was still recovering from the night before, and we'd just walked 29 miles. I finally called Cathy to come and get us because I was too out of it to go on. Wyatt crashed on my couch for a while until Paul came to pick him up. What a tiring day!
Dinner at Portland Diner
Photography
Following are descriptions of the photos as they appear on the photobucket account. After the descriptions you will find the link to photobucket.
My pitcher of beer at Portland Diner
Portland Diner
Portland Diner
Portland Diner
Portland Diner
At King Cole Grove, about thirty miles finished!
1.) Some sort of block ruins near one of the mine holes at Pahaquarry2.) One of the forgotten mine holes we went in at Pahaquarry3.) Delotto and Skyler in the mine4.) More at the mine!5.) Another shot of those ruins6.) Jason and the group in the upper mine along Coppermines Trail7.) Wyatt in the end of the mine8.) I think that's Larry...9.) Inside the mine...10.) On Raccoon Ridge on the AT with a view of Lower Yards Creek Resevoir11.) View of Wallpack Bend from the ridge on the AT12.) Delotto pointing out Wallpack Bend13.) A view of Wallpack Bend and the mountains in the distance from Mt Mohican. Even the Catskills are in view on this clear day14.) On top of Mt Mohican15.) Christina, Delotto, and Ray on Mt Mohican with Lower Yards Creek Resevoir in view16.) Lower Yards Creek Resevoir from Mt Mohican17.) A purple mushroom Ray found in Tocks Swamp on the AT18.) Resting along Turquoise Trail along Sunfish Pond19.) Skyler at Sunfish Pond20.) Major Tom and Christina21.) Chatting along Sunfish Pond22.) Along Sunfish Pond Fire Road, hamming it up!23.) On Turquoise Trail24.) Making our way along the Kittatinny Ridge on Turquoise Trail25.) Still on Turquoise Trail26.) Resting before we begin our descent on Mountain Trail27.) Ira and Wyatt descending on Mountain Trail, steeply28.) Ira with some cool rock outcroppings29.) Jason at the rocks30.) Illegally inside Camp Taylor by the Lakota Wold Preserve31.) Me at the end of the driveable part of Camp Taylor32.) Tea Biscuit picked almost everyone up for a ride down Mt Pleasant Road33.) More of the truck34.) Wyatt moving way too fast down the hill on one of the bikes we found35.) Tea Biscuit riding the bike on Station Road in Hainesburg36.) Ira in Paulins Kill Viaduct37.) More in the viaduct38.) Christina climbing through39.) Looking out of the viaduct40.) Wyatt crossing the wire pier of the bridge inside41.) Christina crossing the wire section42.) Some kids we met in the viaduct43.) Ray inside44.) More of Ray inside!45.) Looking off the top...carefully!46.) Tea Biscuit coming out of the top47.) On top!48.) Wyatt climbing down from inside49.) Under the viaduct on Station Road50.) Along the former NYS&W Rail right of way west of Hainesburg, now Paulinskill Valley Trail system51.) Nice shot of Colombia Lake52.) Passing through the pipe under Rt 8053.) Along Rt 46 in Colombia next to the footbridge54.) The Water Gap with the clouds somewhat obscuring it55.) Another nice shot of the water gap with the clouds coming in56.) Under the footbridge where we went for a swim in Portland57.) Me drinking beer from the pitcher at Portland Diner!58.) The group having some dinner at the diner!59.) Major Tom and Ray at dinner60.) More of dinner61.) Jason and Tea Biscuit62.) Still at the dinner table...63.) Wyatt and I at Hot Dog Johnny's waiting for our ride, having walked 29 miles!64.) Wyatt and I again, only clearer here
At King Cole Grove near Belvidere
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