Hike #494 7/1 and 7/2/10
7/1 and 7/2/10 Mid Hunterdon loop/Deer Path/Arboretum/Echo Hill/Cratetown with Amanda Rosenblatt, "Action Adam" Stevens, Chris Kroschinski, and Jillane Becker
Resting at Deer Path Park watching "The Classics"
Here's a link to all of the photos from this hike:
For this next hike, I planned an impromptu trip in Mid Hunterdon County using much of the route I'd done on past hikes involving Huntedon Parks' Summer concert series. This year was really cool as well because my friend Jack Lowry won the bid for doing the sound after the guys who had done it for so many years. The majority of the park staff claimed that Jack's equipment had superior sound compared to past companies.
The hike started with just Action Adam and I. We spotted Adam's car at my friend Laura Carpenter's house on the corner of Cratetown Road and Rt 629, then shuttled my car back to the Hunterdon Arboretum. This was all after I put in an eight hour work day!
Hiking Hunterdon Arboretum
I did two of these hikes around the Arboretum area this Summer...and I get them a little mixed up. At first I thought Amanda met late for this one but then I realized she must have been on time and the next one she was late for. . I'm not sure the route we took first, but we headed somehow on a route out to the back of the place, probably via the Vincent Aubrytis Wetland Study Area boardwalk. We must have gone in a roundabout route around the Arboretum and then whipped back. Instead of going out and around we went through the garden area and to the gazebo tower.
Gazebo in Hunterdon Arboretum
From there we may have stopped in the office, not sure, but we then followed the connector trail to Echo Hill Environmental Education Center by way of the tunnel under Rt 31. We followed the trail across Prescott Brook, then turned left and went around the edge of the pond there.
Walking along the pond at Echo Hill
We headed up hill from here and past the old Stanton Railroad Station which was hauled to Echo Hill to be used as a lodge. We headed north via the access road and then went into the main building. Action Adam swung around on the hand rail bars a bit and I showed them the building.
In the restrooms at Echo Hill Environmental Education Center
We then headed north further along the perimeter trail of Echo Hill. I pointed out the pavilion area I worked on the previous year and we continued out through the north field. I believe we ate berries in here as well. We continued on the trail out to the access road to Echo Hill and then crossed over Lilac Drive onto the former Lehigh Valley Railroad tracks.
Former Lehigh Valley Railroad tracks, Stanton Station NJ
We followed them south to Stanton Station Road. We then turned right heading towards the bridge over the South Branch of the Raritan River. On the right was an abandoned house I'd always wanted to get closer to to explore. I went up to the front of it but didn't see an easy way in, plus it was collapsing badly. There was a house right across the street so I didn't bother trying to get in.
Abandoned house at Stanton Station
After crossing the river we turned left into the Stanton Station section of the South Branch Reservation and followed the trail south. Once we got to where the trail turned right away from the river a bit, and the original trail along "Cole's Cliff" turned left, we followed the more difficult and dangerous Cole's Cliff one which is always more fun. This took us high on the cliff above the river and then descended to the railroad tracks next to it's trestle over the South Branch. We took a break here and jumped off the abutments into the river a bit. I think a train also went by while we were here, but I can't remember for sure.
From here, the trail was alright to follow through the woods, but it got really bad when we reached the power line section to the south near Packers Island. We headed south across the field section and then headed up to alongside the railroad tracks for a bit. We soon turned left away from the tracks again and then across the first piece of the river onto an island, then across the second branch of the river again as we'd done in the past. On the other side we headed down stream and underneath the Rt 31 bridge.
Under the Rt 31 South Branch bridge
We were now in the Wings Section of the South Branch Reservation headed south. I got a phone call from Cupcake here saying he was meeting up. I instructed him to park his car on Deerpath Road at the Wings trailhead and run straight to us. We walked the trail along the riverside and then ascended to join the other trail that came in from Deerpath Road. Amanda and Action Adam wet ahead while I waited up for Cupcalke.
Once he caught up, and after a big hug, we continued south along the backs of people's back yards, then into a piece of woods to the Readington connector trail to the left. This took us into an open field area and then along the backs of a couple houses before re-entering the woods heading north toward Deer Path Park.
Cupcake alnog the Readington Connector Trail heading for Deer Path Park
Once we reached Deer Path Park, we were just about on time for the concert, which this time I believe was "The Classics". This was the only sort of "big name" the parks had compared to other years. The group featured the original singer of a lot of hits, which was pretty cool.
We relaxed and watched the show.
Jack handling the sound systems at "The Classics" concert.
Here's what was written up by Hunterdon Parks about this group:
"Emil Stucchio and The Classics unique style puts them in a class of their own. They received their recording contract in 1959 and their first release "Cinderella," hit the national Top 100. A certain kind of magic happens when The Classics step onto the stage and begin sailing from one song to another.
They have received national acclaim for their top-selling CDs. Intimate Reflections is a collection of beautiful standards, featuring "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me" and "Somewhere." Their Gold Dust CD includes their own songs, along with "Cara Mia" and "You´ll Never Know." The foundation of this group is the outstanding original lead voice of Emil Stucchio. With over forty years of entertainment experience and excellent vocal abilities, The Classics continue to receive rave reviews from audiences, producers, and fellow performers."
Emil Stucchio and the Classics performing at Hunterdon's Music Under the Stars
During the course of the show I wandered over to the panel where Jack was controlling the sound and chatted with him for a bit. I don't remember what group I thought was supposed to be there, but this wasn't the one I was expecting...it was better. It was nice to hear some of those great old songs that were pretty well known. It took me a while to realize it was the Classics. I think Jack told me.
Emil Stucchio and the Classics at the Hunterdon Parks concert series, with music by Jack and Strikesound
We stayed till the end of the show and then chatted with some of my co workers and of course Jack again.
Chatting with Jack after the Classics show, Deer Path Park
We then headed down over Deer Path pond on the lower bridge, then up around the far field and back across the foot bridge at the north end of the pond. Sadly, I had to remove this bridge as part of my job in December of 2010 because the idiot county engineers deemed it unsafe due to the supports. Honestly, the bridge was fine.
Next, we headed across West Woodschurch Road onto Round Mountain and ascended. It was getting pretty dark while we were crossing, but we safely made it down to Foothill Road as I recall.
Hiking in Readington Township at night
We turned right and then left onto Rt 629, and Jillane met up with us having just gotten off of work and changed, at Deer Run, a dead end road where she parked her car.
We walked along the road from here a short distance to the back of the Hunterdon Arboretum. We then followed the loop trail on the south end and out across the boardwalk to the old barn. We all went in and hung out for a bit by my desk before moving on.
Hangin out at the old barn
We walked down the driveway I think to the parking area and Action Adam took my car back to his at Laura's house, which worked out alright because I wouldn't have to shuttle back to get it, and no rangers would be upset that it was still there.
We crossed under the bridge back over to Echo Hill again and took the loop trail I think to the south again but I can't remember. We then did the same, crossed over Lilac and onto the railroad tracks, but this time followed them north. After crossing over a little stream we turned left into the south end of Sunnyside Picnic Area's trail. We crossed over Old Clinton Road and then made our way into Awassogame Grove with the 9-11 memorial.
Big tree in Sunnyside
We then continued on to the end of the trail at Kiceniuk Road and turned right. We followed Kiceniuk to Lilac Drive and went left. It seemed like forever we were walking Lilac Drive from here. I was getting so tired and barely able to walk. We continued to Payne Road and then went right. I was falling asleep while walking and veering off of the road. We passed the Red Horse Deli (which closed in 2010) and then crossed over Rt 31, jumped the median, and went to On The Run at the Exxon station for some food and drinks. I got an Arizona energy drink as I recall. I was practically passed out just sitting there.
We walked from here south on Rt 31 to Cratetown Road and went left back to Laura's house where our cars were. I believe I drove Cupcake back to his car. I don't remember much...but I sure was exhausted.
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