Hike #490 6/6/10
The group on our lunch break at Dingman's Camp store
6/6/10 Dingman's Creek and Indian Ladders Pocono Rim loop with Jillane Becker, Amanda and Aaron Rosenblatt, Evan "Joe Millionaire" Van Rossum, Shep Glennon, David MacArthur, "Commando Tom" Petrucci, Chris Kroschinski, ?, Sue Bickford-Martin, Carol and Rob Creamer, Nicole Buttery, "Action Adam" Stevens, Jack Lowry, Susan Duncan, Christina Manley, and Louis Cristello Jr.
My next hike would be an incredible loop, the next one in the Pocono Rim series, and a variation on the one I'd done with Jillane at the beginning of Spring.
It was a great big group, with so many of my great friends, new and old. This hike also marked the return of Evan "Joe Millionaire" Van Rossom who'd been missing from the hikes for years!
We met on Park Road, just left off of Silver Lake Road above Dingman's Ferry PA, at George W. Childs Recreation Site.
People were running really far behind when we met for this one, so I waited up. Jillane didn't want to wait around, and since she knew the route at least as far as Dingman's Ferry she went ahead without the rest of us.
Once everyone was together, we headed down the trail and across a bridge over Dingman's Creek.
Ruins in Childs Recreation Area
We passed the ruins of the old stone mill on the right and then stopped to admire Factory Falls. It was running still pretty strong, though maybe not as strong as when Jillane and I were last there.
Factory Falls close up
I first stood from half way up the falls and looked down at the large pool of water below. I thought it looked as though it would be deep enough for me if I were to run and jump from the rock. Just thinking about it wasn't enough, and so I had to throw myself in. It was a hot day, and so it was well worth it. I hurried out of the water before a ranger could come and give me a summons or something.
Factory Falls from further back
We continued down along the east side of the creek, soon past Fulmer Falls, the largest one in Childs Park. We stopped both at the overlook directly into the falls as well as down below. We then continued on the trail down stream along wooden fences and boardwalks. Another bridge crossed the creek at the top of Deer Leap Falls, but we continued down to the lower side and took yet another break. I was going to jump in here but there were a bunch of people so we held back.
Deer Leap Falls
We continued from here down stream along the left side of the creek. I seem to recall this time seeing some sort of ruins of some sort, stone stuff, higher above the creek, but I don't know what for. We continued down across Milford Road, and then down through the woods; I remember this time we got on the opposite side of the creek from where we usually walk. A bit of a trail was over there close to the creek, and it required crossing once, following the foot path, then crossing again on rocks a little later. It made for a different walk than I'd already done anyway.
Along Dingman's Creek heading down stream.
We crossed to the opposite side of the creek on the footbridge at the abandoned Doodle Hollow Road, then headed south toward the upper end of Dingman's Falls. We regrouped when we reached the observation deck at the top. We then headed down and back up through the secondary gully. The little waterfalls in this vicinity were not really running any more. We were soon at the great view of Dingman's Falls.
Dingman's Falls
We kept to the steps down to the bottom of the falls, then headed out along the wooden deck to view them more closely. We took another break and then headed along the boardwalk down stream.
Dingman's Falls
After passing Silverthread Falls on the left, we came out at the park office which was now opened for the season, and we found out from a ranger that dogs were not allowed out to Dingman's Falls. Fortunately they didn't give us too hard a time about Bruce and we continued on along the road heading down stream along Dingman's Creek.
When we were almost down to Rt 209, we passed the abandoned house on the left. We of course had to stop and go in again, and Action Adam crawled out onto the roof. It's a good thing no one was going by because we would certainly have been caught I'm sure. After wandering all through we crossed directly over Rt 209 onto the seldom used paved road straight to a ninety degree bend. Here, we picked up the McDade Trail to the right.
While Jillane was ahead, she somehow met up with Sue Bickford-Martin and continued on along the McDade Trail south. The trail wasn't finished yet, but it was followable.
The McDade Trail kept a gently rolling grade through the woods and eventually came out along Rt 209 next to the entrance to the Dingman's Family Campground. It was an unexpected treat to be able to stop at the camp store and get snacks and drinks. We spent a while here hanging around and relaxing.
Commando Tom likes his boat
Taking a break at Dingman's Campground store along McDade Trail
We followed the McDade Trail from here out of the woods and into fields. It skirted the edges of fields with the tree line to our left for a while, and I think we came to two bridge sites that were not yet in place, or at least I think it was two. The trail was very nice other than the missing bridges.
Along McDade Trail south of Dingman's Ferry
The one missing bridge was really rough. There were no footings in place for this one as I recall, and we had to climb steeply down into a dry wash and back up the other side. I was one of the first to make it down and back up, but some of the others didn't have such luck. While we were still crossing, the sky that had continued to grow ever more cloudy began to pummel us with incredibly heavy rain. I remember Dave was in the ditch at the time, and as soon as the rain started coming down the hillside was impossible to gain traction. It took him a while and our hands, but we got Dave up. Eric was last, and he might have gone out and around, I can't remember totally...but he may have crossed. Anyone remember?
We continued on the trail until we came to Hornbecks Creek, and we turned to follow it up stream through the fields. We then came to Rt 209 and took the dirt driveway to the parking area for the trail along Hornbecks Creek. We regrouped here, and it had stopped raining in time for us to enjoy this great trail section to come. Jack played some guitar while Dave joined him with Susie's.
At Indian Ladders parking area
We made our way up stream along Hornbeck's Creek and stopped for a break when we got to Lower Indian Ladder Falls, a beautiful water fall. The rope swing Cupcake had used previously was in no shape to be used again, it had somehow been cut short. Jillane had been waiting there for a long time for us to show up. Of course she'd have to wait a bit longer because the rest of us wanted to go swimming in the falls.
Lower Indian Ladder Falls
The water was freezing cold but so refreshing. I think someone tried to use the rope swing but failed.
Jillane at Lower Indian Ladder falls
We continued up stream along the trail passing the box canyon of Hornbecks Creek and more beautiful but inaccessable cascades below. We eventually came to the Upper Indian Ladder Falls, one that was much easier to try to climb up.
Upper Indian Ladder Falls
By this time, a lot of the group had pretty much had enough and wanted to turn back. Carol and Rob with Bruce, DJ Ray, Herbig, and to my surprise Cupcake and Louie. Fortunately, there was still a good sized group that hadn't had enough yet, and good thing because there was plenty more fun to be had.
Climbing up from Upper Indian Ladder Falls
Once we'd reached the top, we turned right on Emery Road. We continued along the road, and we passed a gate to some sort of house that looked abandoned, but I think we decided it wasn't and moved on. We took another break when we got to a nice pond just off the road that had a little parking lot by it. I think after this we turned right on Wilson Hill Road, and a short distance down we bushwhacked into the woods. We continued along through the woodlands, I think briefly on a woods road, and eventually came out on Johnny B Road.
Coming out on Johnny B Road
Jillane and I had walked this section before in the Spring, so we turned left heading slightly up hill along the road.
Johnnny B Road
Abandoned Johnny B Road
We soon came to where the road was open to traffic again and continued on. Since our last visit, the shrubs were growing very tightly in on the pavement which was interesting to see. We soon came to the pond along the left side of the road.
Pond along Johnny B Road.
We continued along the road for a little bit to the intersection of the abandoned Doodle Hollow Road.
The trees were growing tightly in along Johnny B Road even where it was open to cars
We turned right on Doodle Hollow and began to follow a steep grade down toward Dingman's Creek. Once we got to the creek we turned left and retraced our steps from earlier in the day up stream and across Milford Road. We continued from here to the base of Deer Leap Falls.
Hiking along Dingman's Creek
It was getting dark, but we were alright. Instead of following the same route from here, we kept to the opposite side of the creek going back. Dave took his shoes off and didn't have a problem with doing the rest of the hike bare footed. We had barely enough daylight to get out before dark.
We decided to have some dinner and/or drinks at the bar where Jillane and I had waited around on the previous hike we did in the area. There was an abandoned house across the street I wanted to check out that time, but it was already too dark by then, and we were cold. This time there was still enough light in the area because it was open next to the road (I think it's Silver Lake Tavern), so I was going to go in and check it out.
Abandoned house near Dingman's Ferry
The place was a mess, like so many others I'd seen before.
Abandoned house near Dingman's Ferry
The one room was really bad, and the floor was obviously buckling. In order to get to the opposite side where Jillane was I had to cross this awful weak floor. What I did find was a screen that might have fit our screen door in Port Colden, so I grabbed it. It fit sort of, but not totally. Either way, it served somewhat of a purpose until the house burned down.
We went back into the bar and hung out for a while, laughed and carried on. We pretty much took over this bar. I remember we ordered pizza, and some guy went up and took a slice. Amanda was pissed, and so she confronted the guy about it, and I believe he gave her money.
Hanging out at the bar at the end of the hike
They started playing music and I remember Shep ended of having this awesome dance off with the one old guy in the place, totally hilarious and a kick ass way to close the night.
Shep's dance off at the bar!
I believe Dave bought us a round of drinks and food to thank us for such a great day. It really was a great day, one of the high points of the Summer for me, and even better things were coming.
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