Hike #53
Beginning our trip in Crestmoore
4/27/2
For whatever reason, I decided I wanted to do the Crestmoore hike again, this time joined
by Cathy, Tea Biscuit, Buck, Eric Pace, and Jenn Krouse, whom I worked with at A&P,
and I’d been bugging for some time to come on a hike. At this time, I had decided to take
the full last weekend of each month off to lead two hikes, Saturday and Sunday. This was
the Saturday one.
Columbia Trail near Crestmoore
Columbia Trail just north of Vernoy
Old building in Vernoy
Old building in Vernoy
Old building in Vernoy
Looking down a hatch into an old building in Vernoy
Old building in Vernoy
Looking down a hatch into an old building in Vernoy
My grandmother dropped us off in Crestmoore and we set out as always. It was a
particularly lovely day and the leaves were blooming nicely. The many benches along the
Colombia Trail section were met by an overly happy Buck, as he made sure to seat himself
on every one with a big grin.
When we reached Vernoy, we decided to go inside the abandoned building along the road
finally. A beautiful old stone structure, it had a spiral staircase to the second floor, and a
giant hole in the floor which views the lower level. It was remarkably sturdy despite it’s
apparent state of disrepair.
Rambo's General Store in Califon
Columbia Trail near Califon
Columbia Trail entering Ken Lockwood Gorge
Ken Lockwood Gorge
Ken Lockwood Gorge
Ken Lockwood Gorge trestle
Ken Lockwood Gorge Trestle
Ken Lockwood Gorge Trestle
Ken Lockwood Gorge
After a stop at Rambo’s in Califon and a chat with the clerk, we made our way into Ken
Lockwood Gorge. On the way in, I related the story of how in the past Aaron Marques
and I once ran up the hillside through the field just for the hell of it, then rolled back
down. Buck was into the idea, so up we went. As on almost every hike he has done with
me, Buck hurt himself, this time by smacking his head on a rock while rolling down the
hill. While not feeling particularly well, it did not stop him from wrestling with Tea Biscuit
a bit. At the trestle, we climbed around a bit on the piers. We also found some “Caution”
tape whic Tea Biscuit put all over himself.
Columbia Trail in Ken Lockwood Gorge
Columbia Trail in Ken Lockwood Gorge
Columbia Trail in Ken Lockwood Gorge
Columbia Trail near Readingsburg
High Bridge NJ
Former CNJ line north of High Bridge NJ
Former CNJ line near Glen Gardner
When we reached High Bridge, we stopped at the Pizza place. Both Jenn and Buck were
not feeling well, Buck having hurt his head, and Jenn with past knee problems. My
grandmother fortunitely was willing to come and pick them up. The remaining four of us
continued north on the old CNJ line.
Former Warren Railroad near Hampton Junction
Old school house in New Hampton
Former Warren Railroad near Dutch Hill
Former Warren Railroad near Changewater
Former Warren Railroad near Changewater
Former Changewater Trestle site
A goose on Changewater trestle abutment
Old mill in the background before it collapsed in Changewater NJ
Former Changewater Trestle site
Murderer's Crossroads, Washington Township
When we reached Hampton, I believe we opted to walk the the road through New
Hampton after reaching Rt 31. We made our way back to the DL&W right of way when
we reached Dutch Hill Road. Much of the right of way from here to Changewater was
very clear, and it appeared that kids had been using portions of it as a paintball range.
When we reached the trestle site in Changewater, we found a Canada Goose nesting on
the south pier. Eric did not want to keep his distance, and nearly got attacked by the bird
when he got too close. He was quite shook up as I recall! Also, Tea Biscuit found an old
bicycle and decided to ride it home...this I believe was the second time on the same hike
he had found a bike, the first being back in 2000 with Conrad and Ronald, when he was
given a bike by someone on Changewater Road.
While in Changewater, I believe we talked to a gentleman who owned the property next
to the trestle, who gave us permission to go up there when we’d like. It might have been
the previous time we hiked it that we met him...I’m not sure.
View across the fields of Point Mountain
McCollough Road, Washington Twp
Fields off of McCollough Road
When we reached the site of Murderor’s Bridge, we turned down McCollough Road to
Port Colden rather than following the rail right of way more closely, and reached home
before dark.
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