Hike #353 7/5/8
7/5/8 Fort Washington/Plymouth Meeting/Manayunk/Philadelphia area with Jason Itell, Shelly Janes, Russ Moyer, Jude Shabrach, Marge Brennan, and "Major Tom" Conroy, Tom Petrucci.
Group shot in Manayunk PA
Here's a link to all of the pictures from this hike...be sure to look at the sub folder to the left for the Pics from Shelly!
http://s278.photobucket.com/albums/kk97/sneezehorse2/hike353%207-5-8/
This is another one I lost the original journal entry to unfortunitely. If anyone has it let me know!
Fort Washington State Park
Fort Washington State Park
Fort Washington State Park
Fort Washington State Park
Fort Washington State Park
Future trail route out of Fort Washington
Fort Washington State Park
Fort Washington State Park
Messing with the mirror at an underpass
Messing with the mirror at an underpass
Messing with the mirror at an underpass
Messing with the mirror at an underpass
Future trail route near Fort Washington
Tracks
Along the tracks near Fort Washington
Somewhere near Fort Washington
Jason, was this your idea?
Bushwhacking
Future trail route?
Power line near Fort Washington
I think this is somewhere near Plymouth Meeting
This was of course our route
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
The sign says it all
Power line walk from Plymouth Meeting
Flowers along the power line
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Plymouth Meeting
Hawk in Plymouth Meeting
Power line walk from Plymouth Meeting
Power line walk from Plymouth Meeting
Flowurz
Black Eyed Susans
Power line walking
Badass. Actually, we didn't walk in that way, truth be told.
Descending on the power line out of Plymouth Meeting
Commando Tom
Along the power line south of Plymouth Meeting
South of Plymouth Meeting, Miquon area
Tree, yo
Jason's mean ride
Somewhere near Miquon in PA
Schuykill River
Back road along the Schuykill
Nice mail box
Back roads near Miquon
Back roads along the Schuykill
Yard full of giant wind chimes
Giant chimes
Yard full of giant wind chimes
Yard along the Schuykill filled with giant wind chimes
Giant wind chimes
Giant wind chimes
Giant wind chimes near Miquon PA
First time we'd really seen a Smart Car up close
First time we'd really seen a Smart Car up close
First time we'd really seen a Smart Car up close
Memorial along the Schuykill River Trail
Memorial
Abandoned building nearing the water works
Railroad tracks near Shawmont area
Old building at Shawmont area
Old stone road down to the water works
Old stone roadway
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
Abandoned industry, Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
Abandoned industry, Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
Another place @[1213278982:2048:Rusty Tagliareni] and @[1083049420:2048:Christina Mathews] would probably like to film, unless they've done it already. Not sure it still has the same mystique today. Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
I couldn't resist trying to climb up
Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
Abandoned Shawmont Water Works
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Abandoned Shawmont Waterworks
Schuykill Canal towpath
Near the old Shawmont Water Works along the Schuykill Navigation Canal route
Schuykill canal towpath
The Flat Rock Dam on the Schuykill
The Flat Rock Dam on the Schuykill
Schuykill Canal towpath below the Shawmont Water Works
Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Manayunk
Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Along the Manayunk Canal
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk: don't steal this barber pole!
Manayunk mural
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Paver streets in Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Abandoned building in Manayunk
The group near an abandoned building in Manayunk
Behind an abandoned building in Manayunk!
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Manayunk
Abandoned steps up toward the tracks in manayunk
Abandoned steps
The Manayunk Wall
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Historic marker
Forbidden Drive
Historic marker
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Covered bridge
The last covered bridge in Philadelphia
Hostel in Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
A MOTH!!!
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Wissahickon Gorge
Fort Washington State Park
Historic marker
Historic marker
Along the road walk section of the Wissahickon Green Ribbon
Wissahickon Green Ribbon Trail parallel with Northwest Road
Fort Washington State Park
Beign silly in Fort Washington
This next hike was another arranged by Jason Itell, using the loose framework that we wanted to do a hike that would connect with our previous trip out that way, and incorperate the Wissahickon Gorge, Jason came through again with an awesome one.
We started in Fort Washington on paved trails, and then somehow got on a new trailway that was at this time incomplete. We paralleled some active railroad tracks as I recall at some point, and a lady hollered at us from her back yard saying "that trail is'nt open yet!!!". We ended up crossing over and going into some quarry operation as well.
At some point the trail was worse than incomplete, it was'nt there at all. We ended up bushwhacking like crazy through some really high weeds. We eventually came out somehow into Plymouth Meeting. We wandered through the cemetaries and checked out really big trees. There was sort of a trailway out of there, but we somehow had to get back onto roads. I know somewhere along the way we walked a piece of the route we'd followed for the AMC dinner hike, but I'm not sure the road names or where it exactly fits without a map.
I remember stopping at a grocery store for lunch, and then walking a road a short distance to take another piece of utility right of way down hills. We soon were able to get onto the Schuykill River Trail, a paved path on an abandoned railroad bed. This took us parallel with the river for a bit, but then Jason took us off and onto the parallel road which had more interesting scenery including some giant wind chimes. We also chatted with a girl who had a smart car, as we'd never seen one up close.
We could soon see where the Schuykill River Trail's paved path ended and pedestrians were forced down hill on an old paver roadway. This took us to a giant abandoned stone building with giant windows. It looked like it had once been a church converted to industry because the giant windows were filled in with block. We climbed around in the building for a while which was awesome, and explored another one or two before moving on.
We did'nt get far before we found a nice swimming spot. A few of us got in as I recall, but I went about half way across the Schuykill. This was just down stream from a nuclear power plant as I recall, but I did'nt care. I was drinking a bottle of MD 20/20 on this one so I was well obliterated.
The trail we were following was the Union Canal towpath, part of the Schuykill Canal and navigation system, and I read it was the oldest section of operating canal in the US. We walked this great towpath in a section of former industry to Manayunk. Jason took us off of the towpath for the town because it's so scenic itself. There was a lot of painting on the buildings and all sorts of diversified stores. We continued through town and stopped for ice cream along the way.
On the south side we passed an abandoned stone building with a path gradually ascending behind it. We went to look and it was a nice set of old steps and a seating area. We continued from here and passed a giant stone wall before leaving the Manayunk Area.
Soon, we came to the Wissahickon Creek. A trail crossed the road and ascended gradually on the left side of the creek. We followed this. At some point there was a bridge crossing over, and this paved path made it's way through a narrower area. I was thoroughly impressed with this area. Next, we came to Forbidden Drive, an old road through Wissahickon Gorge, now a major trail. We followed this all the way north to it's end which was beautiful. There was a covered bridge, great swimming spot behind an old ruined dam, an old hostel, and continueing nice scenery. I know Shelly and I got far behind when we stopped to swim, and I think maybe Major Tom was with us. Many of the others went ahead to get done earlier.
When we reached the end of the trail, we had to turn right and then left on Stenton Ave. There was one bridge over the creek, but then the trail ended and we had to walk north on Stenton. We did'nt make it all the way back to Fort Washington because it was getting so late, so Jason came and picked us up I think. Many of us went out to eat at a small place nearby.
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