Hike #444 9/20/9
9/20/9 Pocono Rim; Tumbling Waters-Indian Ladders with Jillane Becker, Kyle Zalinsky, Amanda Rosenblatt, Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, Eric Fay, Shep Glennon, "Amish Paul" Hassler, Chris Kroschinski, and Steve Marano
The group on the Pocono Rim along Tumbling Waters Trail
This was a very special hike for me. It felt like a new life. Not like Jillane had never left and not like the Summer hadn't existed, but very different. Jillane was back, living with me and we had a beautiful reunion. Even though it felt different we were happy and I had a great feeling of relief and comfort. It was like a puzzle piece was back in place when I was just getting used to it being missing...and I think it made me appreciate her more.
Beginning another Pocono Rim hike, Kyle wore this silly hap.
Old root cellar near Tumbling Waters
Old root cellar near Tumbling Waters
Trail along Mill Creek nearing Tumbling Waters
Tumbling Waters
Lower falls at Tumbling Waters
Tumbling Waters
Making our way up the crazy unmarked trails
Climbing up from the lower Tumbling Waters
An upper falls at Mill Creek
Upper falls along Mill Creek, Pocono Rim
Along the Mill Creek
Along Mill Creek
Small falls on the Mill Creek
Mill Creek
More on the Mill Creek
Along Tumbling Waters Trail
View from Tumbling Waters Trail
View from Tumbling Waters Trail of NJ
Viewpoint on Tumbling Waters Trail
Rest at a view point on Tumbling Waters Trail
View into the Delaware Valley from Tumbling Waters Trail
Old fireplace along Tumbling Waters Trail
View along Tumbling Waters Trail
The Ring of Aldyth at Pocono Environmental Education Center
At PEEC
A phalic mushroom???
Along Scenic Gorge Trail
Along Scenic Gorge Trail
Scenic Gorge Trail
Mushrooms along Scenic Gorge Trail
Upper Indian Ladders falls
Along Emery Road
Trail along Hornbecks Creek at Indian Ladders
Jillane
McDade Trail in the flats near Shapnack Island
My next hike was the next in my series to cover the Pocono Rim. This was a particularly special one for me because it was the first one since my girlfriend Jillane Becker returned from Utah, and things seemed better between us than ever. The route was a loop between the Tumbling Waters area and the Indian Ladders (a chain of waterfalls on the Pocono Rim). Joining Jillane and I were Kyle Zalinsky, Amanda Rosenblatt, Chris Kroschinski, Shep Glennon, Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, "Amish Paul" Hassler, and newcomers Eric Faye and Steve Marano.We began walking from the Rt 209 pull off area up the trail past the old stone cellar area (1-4) to the first waterfall. It was terribly cold, but Kyle and I both jumped in anyway (5-6). We continued up the unofficial trail section to the upper falls and the spur trail from Tumbling Waters Trail (7), but we continued off the official trail upstream to reach yet another waterfall (8) where we were surprised to find a few more people swimming in the frigid water (9-11). We continued from here along the more obscure trail (12-13). There was another nice cascade in a rocky cleft (14) followed by yet another one above (15,16). We turned right off of the creek and bushwhacked up hill to reach Tumbling Waters Trail. We were singing Elton John songs because Kyle had on these Elton John looking glasses. A bird watcher lady was walking the trail and I said "Is'nt it a great day?" to which she replied "It was....". Kyle slyly said to her "The birds sing, the birds sing!" in a british accent. We continued along the hillside and bushwhacked a corder to reach Tumbling Waters Trail further to the south (17). We followed this trail to the edge of the drop off to the Delaware with a nice view (18-22). We continued on and passed by an old chimney (23), then followed the trail (24) to Pocono Environmental Education Center where Jillane and I got our picture with the Ring of Aldyth (25). We continued to the visitor's center, then we made our way along the Fossil Trail to the east (26). Jillane found a phalic looking mushroom (27). We continued on along the Scenic Gorge Trail and looped to the Sunrise Trail following outcroppings of rocks, pretty streams, marshes, and forests. There was even a spot with a wire to hold onto to pull ourselves up the trail (28-38). Once we finished this trail, we followed roads to the west of the park land (39) to one of the tributaries to Hornbecks Creek which we'd use to access the Indian Ladders Falls(40). The first main falls was quite nice and Kyle and I ran to the top. There was another smaller falls just above that one (41-46). We continued along the trail to the south passing more falls (47,48), and we stopped at the nicest one to take a swim where there was a rope swing. Only Chris and I went in (49-51). We continued on across the creek a couple times (53,55) leading out to Rt 209. There was an old set of steps along the way Jillane noticed, not sure what they were for (56,57). We crossed 209 and headed across the fields to reach the new but unopened McDade Trail and turned right (58-64). It was a good way to finish up a great hike with a nice easy trail (save for one tree over the trail).
The group on the Pocono Rim along Tumbling Waters Trail
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