Hike #34
At the Kittatinny Point Information Station. This building was destroyed a couple years later I think in the flood...
6/20/1
I was back in the swing of trying to get weekly hikes going again, and I had a new hike I
wanted to to encompassing all of the other trails in Worthington I had’nt done in the lower
Worthington hike previously. When I told Ronald about it, he just wanted to go
swimming. Peeps and Alf were pretty much up for anything. I was’nt going to take a
whole day and just do a short walk with a shot of swimming, however.
Approaching the Rt 80 underpass where the NYS&W Railroad used to go
I picked Ronald, Peeps, and Alf up at their friend, Michelle’s house, who they were doing
yard work for. Ronald was having a fling for her, and it was a bit of a weird topic.
We drove to Dunnfield and began walking, first to the Kittatinny Point Information
Station in the Gap, then along the frontage road, also the NYS&W right of way, under Rt
80 to where the rail grade was still somewhat intact. We followed the right of way along
the riverside to the site of the bridge, which was reportedly washed out in the flood of
1955. The north abutment had begun sinking into the river as well.
Former NYS&W Railroad, now Karamac Trail
Site of former NYS&W Railroad trestle above the Delaware Water Gap
Karamac Trail, Del Water Gap
Now, this section of the right of way is part of the Karamac Trail, named after an Inn of
the same name that stood nearby, and the trail accesses. We visited the Karamac Inn
Ruins, which are incredible, then made our way up the trail to River Road, and directly
across onto Farview Trail (aka Beaulahlands Trail).
Ruins of the Karamac Inn
Looking toward the NYS&W trestle site from Karamac Inn site
Making our way steeply up Farview Trail, Worthington SF.
I had slipped and cut my leg walking
this trail with my grandfather many years ago, and still have a large scar on my upper right
leg. We coninued along this route to the AT, passing the now abandoned backpacker’s
site #1, and on to the AT.
Formerly Backpacker Site #1, Farview Trail
Holly Springs, Worthington SF
Frog in Holly Springs
Along the AT where Holly Springs Trail and Farview Trail join it
At Backpacker Site #2, Worthington SF
Douglas Springs, Worthington SF
After making a brief side trip to Holly Springs to refill water,
we made our way up the AT to backpacker site #2, still in use. After a rest, we headed
downhill on Douglas Trail, named for Senator Douglas who walked this route in the
sixties, a trip that saved Sunfish Pond from being enlarged to a pumped water facility. We
stopped at another spring along the way where Ronald refilled his water, and the others
tried to dam up the tributary to make for easier more accesable water collection in the
future.
Douglas Springs
Douglas Trail, Worthington SF
A deer along Douglas Trail, Worthington
We headed downhill on switchbacks, passing by some deer. Next, we turned onto
Northwest Trail, also known as Rockcores Trail, named for large test boorings taken from
the land during the proposed Tocks Island Dam project in the 1960s. The plan by the army
corps of engineers was denounced as it was found the ground would not hold the
proposed dam, and the project too until 1991 to become officially deautorhized.
Sunfish Drainage Trail, Worthington SF
Along Sunfish Drainage Trail, Worthington SF
Soon, we made our way north on the unblazed Sunfish Drainage Trail, which obviously
follows the outlet of Sunfish Pond. Very steep at times, Ronald was very unhappy as he
had worn sandals. Peeps reached the top first, as I recall, and we all took a refreshing
swim in Sunfish Pond. Ronald was feeling better, but still unhappy. The funny thing is,
there was’nt much complaining until I revealed the true mileage we’d done so far!
Sunfish Pond; Peeps and I were first to make it to the top
Sunfish Pond along the AT
At Sunfish Pond
Sunfish Pond
Along Garvey Springs Trail
We had always liked to swim at the rock sculptures that hikers make on the lake’s rocky
shores. After this we headed to the AT north to Garvey Springs Trail, descending. When
we reached the bottom, we saw Garvey Spring Falls, which was flowing beautifully.
Garvey Springs Trail, Worthington SF
Laurel Falls along Garvey Springs Trail
Trailhead of Garvey Springs Trail, Worthington SF
Next we walked the road back toward the park office, and Ronald and Alf could not go
on, laying down along the way. Peeps and I began moving as fast as possible, and made
incredible time back to Dunnfield. When we reached the stop light near Rt 80, a three
minute light, and reportedly the longest in NJ, there was a beautiful young girl in a
convertable we kept checking out. When we retrieved the car, we went back to pick up
Ronald and Alf.
After this hike we went to Belvidere to have some lunch at a corner deli Ronald had
enjoyed.
This is where Peeps and I left Alf and Ronald to continued back to Kittatinny Point Information Station.
“That was a workout. Gotta love the second wind” -Peeps
That was some second wind.
Here's where you can find pics from this hike...
http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q13/sneezehorse/hike034%206-20-1/
Garvey Springs Trail, Worthington SF
Laurel Falls along Garvey Springs Trail
Trailhead of Garvey Springs Trail, Worthington SF
This is where Peeps and I left Alf and Ronald to continued back to Kittatinny Point Information Station.
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