Hike #424 7/4/9
7/4/9 Stokes State Forest Loop with "Amish Paul" Hassler.
Me on the Kittatinny Ridge near Culver's Gap
I was surprsided only Amish Paul showed up for this hike, but it was still keeping with the high energy of the Summer. Paul and I finished fifteen plus miles in just about five hours or less, and over difficult terrain. I was getting in better shape than I'd been in since my early years with Cathy. We were finishing up at a Lake House party at Cindy Roach's house for Fourth of July. It was sure to be amazing. Old friends were there, and Kyle, Amanda, and I canoed all over the lake singing "Ace of Base" songs. If that weren't enough, I was doing another big hike the next day.
Along the AT above Culver's Gap with a view of Kittatinny Lake
Along the AT above Culver's Gap
View from Normanook Tower of Kittatinny Lake and Lake Owassa
View north from Normanook Tower near Culver's Gap
View into NJ from Normanook Tower
View from Tower Trail
Amish Paul on Tower Trail
Along Steam Mill Trail
I think this is also Steam Mill Trail
Dam on Lake Wapalanne
Steps into the creek below Lake Wapalanne
Lake Wapalanne, Stokes SF
Along Blue Mountain Trail, Stokes
Building along Stony Creek Trail, Stokes
Barn along Stony Creek Trail, Stokes
Along Stony Creek Trail, Stokes
Along Stony Creek Trail, Stokes
Along Stony Creek Trail, Stokes
Weird thing along Stony Creek Trail, Stokes
Pond along Stony Creek Trail, Stokes
Small falls along Stony Creek Trail, Stokes
Small falls along Stony Creek Trail, Stokes
Stony Creek Falls
Stony Lake
Stony Lake
Little pond along Lackner Trail
Lackner Trail, Stokes
Along Lackner Trail, Stokes
Barbecue at the Tall Mom's house
Barbecue at the Tall Mom's house
Barbecue at the Tall Mom's house
The Tall One
Barbecueing at the Tall One's
Barbecue party thing
I like pie
Kittatinny Lake
Kittatinny Lake
Party on Kittatinny Lake
My next hike would be an almost loop in Stokes State Forest. The only one to join me on this fourth of July hike was "Amish Paul" Hassler. We met at the Stokes Forest Office, which was very close to Cindy Roach's house, mother of Christine "The Tall One" Roach who was having a July 4th picnic we would attend. I was surprised to see Paul with a beard. He had just been on vacation and grown it. He told me stories of a rave he went to where drug induced craziness made a guy impale his ear with a porcupine quill. We spotted a car at the AT parking lot in Culver's Gap and followed this trail northbound up the mountain to the Normanook Fire Tower (1-7) which had some great views at this point. We then followed Tower Trail down hill to near Stony Lake (8). From here we picked up I think part of Station Trail to Swenson Trail and followed it northeast. We reached Crigger Road, followed it to Steam Mill Trail which I'd never done, and took it back southwest (9,10). This led us to a road through a camp area with a lovely lake (11-13). We continued on the road till we reached Blue Mountain Trail and followed it in the same direction to Kittle Road I think it wa (14) where we found some nice abandoned barns (15-20). We then followed the newly blazed Stony Brook Trail that led from here to Kittle Field and beyond to the Stony Lake parking area. We passed a pond along the way (21) as well as a couple nice little waterfalls. Paul and I took a dip in one (22-24). We then reached Stony Lake and walked the perimeter on Stony Lake Trail (25-26). From there we took Lackner Trail to an old dam (27,28) and then followed it on an old road alignment back to the park office (29). Across Rt 206 from the park office was Kittatinny Lake where the party was being held, and so we joined in on the festivities.
Past hikers in attendance were of course the Tall One and Cindy Roach, Mike Ademek, and later Kyle Zalinsky and Amanda Rosenblatt. We took canoes out onto the lake singing and carrying on, went swimming, and chatted with old friends. Some old friends of mine from high school and my boy scouts troop were there as well, so it was a good time.
Me on the Kittatinny Ridge near Culver's Gap
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