Hike #39; Mid-Kittatinny

 Hike #39

On Rattlesnake Mountain

Hike 39

 

8/26/1

 

My next new section hike I had scaled off was in the mid point of the Kittatinny

Mountain, a loop I had devised between Millbrook/Blairstown Road and Bird Mountain

Area. Tea Biscuit and Peeps were the only interested parties.

Starting out: Millbrook Road parking area on the AT

We drove to Millbrook Blairstown Road and parked on the north side, heading out along

the AT, first passing a beaver pond, then further up on the ridge across a power line with

some views. We could see the Sand Pond, which was in Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco ( Not an

indian name: “North Bergen Boy Scouts”).

Beaver pond along the AT north of Millbrook gap

Power line crossing north of Millbrook Road, AT

Viewpoint along the AT north of Millbrook Road

Tree climbing along the AT north of Millbrook

Continueing on, the trail enters woods roads, with views of Fairview Lake below. The

woods roads were planned as part of the Blue Mountain Lakes housing developement,

apparently the result of speculation that it would become lakefront property if the Tocks

Island Resevoir had been built; the plan was officially deauthorized in 1991.

Viewpoint over Fairview Lake from the AT

We continued across Blue Mountain Lakes Road, no more residents live in the area, then

continued passing a dry lake bed. After a steep ascent we had some nice Pocono Views

and could see Crater Lake not far below, but we did’nt head down to it this time.

Weird cleared area along the AT near Crater Lake

Weird cleared area just off of the AT near Crater Lake, which looks to have once been a pond

Steep section of the AT at Crater Lake

The AT near Crater Lake

We crossed another series of roads, then entered a footpath onto Rattlesnake Hill, with some

nice views of the Poconos. Continueing on, there was another view from Bird Mountain.

My planned route had told us to descend on a woods road near here, but we passed it

continueing south on NJ’s Blue Mountain, which had the best views of the day, then we

descended into a gap at the abandoned Brink Road. At this point we realized we went the

wrong way. Brink Road Shelter was nearby, as well as a spring to refill water.

AT on Rattlesnake Mountain

AT on Bird Mountain

AT on Bird Mountain

Old woods road descending to Mountain Road near Walpack Center

Hidden Falls, which was pretty dry during out visit

Next, we followed Woods Road to the south to get to the planned route, and followed an

old unblazed farm road with a lot of blowdowns to Mountain Road, a vehicle accessable

dirt road in Del Water Gap NRA. We took a brief side trip up the hill to Hidden Falls,

which was dry but beautiful. Tea Biscuit decided to strip down and go skinny dipping here

while Peeps and I turned our backs. We then continued on Mountain Road. At one point,

an entourage of cars came barreling by us, and passed us a few times, apparently lost.

When we reached Buttermilk Falls, a beautiful tall waterfall right along the road, we

turned onto Buttermilk Falls Trail which ascends steeply, first on stairs.

Buttermilk Falls Trail

We decided to try to race our way to the top; Peeps had a walkie talkie and we communicated even as I

reached our destination of Woods Road Trail. When we were all together we continued

south on Woods Road trail, passing interesting swamp lands, and Hemlock Pond. Soon,

we reached more of the Blue Mountain Lakes developement roads, and we found one

abandoned house, with cars in the driveway and all. It appeared to be long abandoned. A

calender on the wall read 1982, possibly evidence of it’s last occupation. I am told this

house has since been removed.

Swamp along Woods Road Trail

Hemlock Pond along Woods Road Trail

Abandoned house at Blue Mountain Lakes

Abandoned house at Blue Mountain Lakes

Continueing on, we reached Blue Mountain Lakes Road and descended to a place called

Donkey’s Corners, where we turned onto the abandoned Donkey’s Corners Road, now

Donkey Hollow Trail, which led us through the woods on it’s way down into Donkey

Hollow, with the Van Campen Brook. We found evidence of where houses once stood

along the way, particularly when we neared the village of Millbrook.

Old house site along Donkey Hollow Trail, near Millbrook

In Millbrook Village

Millbrook Village. This bridge washed out years later, and was replaced by a foot bridge.

Along Millbrook-Blairstown Road

Tea Biscuit

Peeps

Millbrook is a restored 19th century working village which has demonstrations from time to time. After

reaching the old intersection on Millbrook Blairstown Road, we crossed the old bridge

(which was washed away in 2004 or 2005). We began ascending the road back up to the

car, but I decided to run ahead while Tea Biscuit and Peeps waited on the railing, and I

returned to pick them up.

“ And then drinking the three year old Snapple.” -Peeps

Oh yeah, that was disgusting! I had it in the car from when Cathy worked at Shop Rite!

“No way, that Snapple was so refreshing!” -Peeps

Yeah, maybe when you’re about to die of thirst.

“I think you had some after we said it was good” -Peeps

I did? I don’t remember. I must have been desperate!

 

Peeps would drink that old ass Snapple I kept in the back hatch of the camaro after a few

different hikes, and I was afraid after that old Snapple made Bill Bill and I sick on hike 12.