Hike #451 11/1/9
11/1/9 Boonton Area Loop with Jillane Becker, Kyle Zalinsky, Jason Itell, Fred Hafale, Sue Bickford Martin, "Connecticut Joe" Bukowski, Joe Tag, Eric Pace, Carol and Rob Creamer, "DJ Ray" Cordts, and Cory Salveson.
In Tourne Park
Getting ready for the Halloween Party, 2009
Halloween Party at DJ Ray's
DJ Ray's Halloween Party
DJ Ray Halloween Party
Kyle and Jillane with the Yes Pumpkin
Yes Pumpkin
DJ Ray's Halloween Party
At DJ Ray's Halloween Party
My next hike would be another connecting section around the area of Boonton. The preceding night "DJ Ray" Cordts had a party at his new apartment in Boonton for Halloween which was attended by many hikers including Jillane and I, Paige, Shelly, Herbig, Mr. Buckett, Carol and Rob, Delotto, Shep, Cory, Chrissi, Amanda, Eric, and many more (1-20bba). Kyle even made a pumpkin that said simply "YES" on it! The next day we began our loop hike in Boonton by walking along back streets from DJ Ray's place on Grant Street. Joining me this time were Jillane, as well as Fred Hafale, "Amish Paul" Hassler, "Connecticut Joe" Bukowski, Sue Bickford-Martin, Carol and Rob Creamer (who joined us at Grace Lord Park), Eric Pace, Kyle Zalinsky,Jason Itell, and Joe Tag. We first passed by an old factory building and walked around it to Rt 287 to see if we could find a way down to the Rockaway River. There was no apparent way at first (1). We walked back around the building and descended to the other side of the factory which Packard car factory. We walked along the bottom of the hill below it (22,23) and the whole area was badly overgrown. Jillane was'nt feeling well from the night before and so was moving slowly. The others ahead of me found a way to climb up the wall to the right and then reach Rt 287 near where we were before, and then just ran across the river on the highway bridge. Ct. Joe was trying to direct us from the other side. Jillane and I climbed up and found another old car parked there (24) and soon after realized an old Packard was parked on the roof (25)! We all walked under 287 along the rocky shore of the Rockaway River (26-28) and then under the railroad tracks, formerly the Lackawanna Railroad's Boonton Branch (29-31). A path around the abutments led up to a road where there was an old freight station and a diesel parked (31a-32a). We had to climb a steep hill to get up to this (32b-32daa). The southern end of Grace Lord Park was directly acros the street from where we came out, and so we followed the trail into the woods. We immediately came to an abandoned railroad sput and a trestle over the Rockaway. I had to cross it of course, even though it was'nt my planned route. There was also an old turntable pit nearby (33-39). We followed the trail (40-40b) high above the river caked between it and homes until we reached a beautiful old stone bridge (41-43b) and some great views of rapids. The bridge read "EL" on it, and it far preceded Erie Lackawanna, so we don't know what it would have been for.
In Grace Lord Park
We continued up stream on the trail to Grace Lord Falls where we took a break (44-48c). We continued from here upstream past the dam and into the developed portion of the park (49-49d). From here we turned onto Main Street and headed west. We stopped for a break at King's supermarket where we all got some food. I got a lot of free sample stuff which was everywhere! Pastries, crackers with dip, and some fantastic muffins which I filled my pocket with. We took a brief break outside before moving on (49da). We crossed the parking lot out to McCaffrey Lane which ascended the Tourne, a knob in Tourne county park of Morris County. The yellow blazed trail started immediately off the road (50). The trail led us up to a parking area and more trail heads (50a). We turned and headed into a fenced wildflower garden area (50aaa), then out the other side (50aba) leading to the Top of the Tourne which had views including NYC skyline in the distance (51-52). We moved on along the trail to another small view to the west (53,54), then along the trail further to a bit more of a view to the north (55,55aaa). We continued on the red blazed trail with some limited seasonal views (55aab-56aab) and took a break where the red trail made right angle turn to the left (57-57caa). We then followed this trail to the white blazed trail and turned left passing some sort of old building (58,58aaa). The white blazed trail seemed to be an abandoned railroad bed of some sort, though I knew nothing about one being there (59-63aaa). I later found out it was indeed a railroad grade, but only for a proposed and never used railroad in 1898. It was now called Ogden Trail. We followed it's entire length back to McCaffrey Lane where Fred, Sue, Joe T and Ct. Joe all cut out early to head back to the cars (we had gotten a late start because I read my clock wrong for daylight savings time). We headed down McCaffrey Lane and onto another trail along a stream leading to the red blazed Rattlesnake Trail which passed some beautiful swamp lands (64-65aac). The trail led to a lake where another side trail went to the right. We took this one back to the rail right of way we were on earlier, but this time followed it south alongside a lake (66). This led us out to a more developed recreation area with a swimming beach and walkways over the water (67-70aab). There was a big diving platform and we decided to be crazy and go for a November swim! Jason, Kyle, and I all went in and it was pretty cold (70aac-71aab).
Beach south of Tourne Park
We continued from here on the platform walkway floating on the water (72-73) out to Pocono Road where we met up with DJ Ray and Cory (74). We walked Pocono Road past the hospital where Jillane believed she was born (75-77) and into the town of Denville (78-80).
Nearing Denville NJ
Kyle layed on the crosswalk and a lady instructed her young daugher "don't ever lay in the crosswalk like that".
Denville NJ...
Kyle then took off screaming through town! We soon reached the A&P of Denville and went inside and ate free samples again. Everyone except for Ray, Cory, Jason, Kyle, and myself cut out at this point (82-82aaa). We walked down the road to a railroad underpass and climbed up to the tracks to the junction of the former Morris and Essex division of the Lackawanna, and the Lackawanna's Boonton Branch (83,84).
Along old Boonton Branch near Denville
We followed the Boonton Branch heading east and north. There was actually an abandonment following the active tracks that had recent concrete tie replacements (85-91). We tried to stay on the parallel abandoned lines as best we could until they sort of merged with the current active one. The moon was full so it was'nt getting terribly too dark (92). We soon came across some abandoned Lackawanna passenger cars. Kyle climbed on top while the rest of us explored inside (93-96).
Abandoned rail car near Boonton
We continued on the tracks heading northeast to the Boonton Station (we passed another station mistakenly thinking it to be the correct one earlier) and then climbed the stairs up to the road. We followed a couple streets back to Grant Street and DJ Ray's place where we had some more junk food and rested up a bit before we left. We saw Brian and Russ Rapp there. I had'nt seen Russ in forever and he did'nt recognize me at all! Kyle and I hid happy bag items all over the house before we left.
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