Hike #65
A lime kiln at the base of County House Mountain's south side near Karrsville
Hike 65
8/2/2
Lime Kiln on the dirt road south of Sykes Gap
Tea Biscuit now had a bit of free time, as Acme, where he worked, had just closed. I had
been wanting to do an exploratory hike around Pequest Wildlife Management Area for
some time, so Cathy dropped the two of us off at the end of the dirt cross-mountain road
in Karrsville, near our home in Port Colden. We had walked the road several times, and
used to ride up and down it with my grandfather on the tailgate of his Volkswagon Diesel
truck. We began by climbing up an old lime kiln as we had in our childhood.
Dirt warren road over County House Mountain
In Pequest WMA
Pond in Pequest WMA
Fields of Pequest WMA
Following the road north, we soon reached Pequest Wildlife Management area and the
ATV trail that follows a power line west. We followed this passing by a beautiful pond,
corn fields, the new Shippen Ridge developement, across Pequest Road, and to the
DL&W right of way. We tried to continue along the power line west from here, but it was
far too overgrown. We instead walked Pequest Road out to the Oxford Twp. park, where
we climbed around on equipment and refilled water at their pump.
Power line in Pequest WMA
Power line in Pequest WMA
Fields of Pequest WMA
Along Pequest Road, Oxford. Bonus speed bump.
Refreshing stop in Oxford
Extra refreshing stop in Oxford
Playground off of Pequest Road
Playground off of Pequest Road
In Pequest WMA's northwest side near the cell towers
Pequest WMA along Rt 31, Buttsville
Old barn site in Pequest WMA
Old farm road in Pequest WMA near Buttsville
Old slag piles from Pequest Furnace, Pequest NJ
Old car along a brook at Pequest Furnace
An old bridge site at a brook, Pequest Furnace
Our next move was to follow the dirt road to a new cell tower, and try to return to the
power line that way. We fought through heavy weeds, and out to a field, which eventually
took us to farm roads accessable by Rt 31. When we were sure where we were, we
headed back east on the hillside passing the remains of farm buildings which had recently
been razed. We continued on the farm road which led us back down to the DL&W right of
way once again. We followed the railbed south to the refuse piles of Pequest furnace,
crossing via an ATV trail.
As we made our way through the woods, we came across a creek and the ruins of a
bridge, as well as the rotted out shell of an old car decaying, partially buried along the
creek. We made our way to the Pequest River, wading across, and exploring trails. We
followed Pequest Road, and part of the right of way of the Pequest Furnace Railroad
toward the L&HR right of way, then waded up the Pequest for a distance.
Pequest River at Pequest Furnace
Pequest River at Pequest NJ
Pequest River near Pequest Furnace
Abandoned section of Pequest Trout Hatchery
When we exited the river to the south, we came across what appeared to be an
abandoned section of the Pequest Trout Hatchery, with concrete flumes and foundations.
A woods road to the site paralleled Pequest Road to the south, so we followed it to the
fields adjacent to the hatchery.
Petting the fish at Pequest Trout Hatchery
View from a trail in Pequest WMA
Pond along Pond Trail in Pequest WMA
Power line view in Pequest WMA
View from the power line in Pequest WMA
When we reached the hatchery, we stopped to pet the fish (I know, it’s corny), then
followed the Pequest Trails, first through woods, then to an overgrown meadow, uphill to
a beautiful view over the immediate area. The trail led us beyond to a small pond, then up
rockier terrain to the powerline we were on previously, with more nice views. We took
the power line downhill back to the dirt road near where we began, then out to Axford
Avenue. We followed the road back to Oxford, and it began to look like it was going to
rain. We made a stop at piles of junk and found some Oxford Police patches, then Tea
Biscuit stopped at a female friends’ house before we headed into Oxford where I believe
we called Cathy to come and pick us up. I can’t remember if we walked in any rain, but
that was about the end of the hike.
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