Hike #500 7/17/10
Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway opening
7/17/10 Taylor Steelworkers Historical Greenway/High Bridge to Clinton with Jillane Becker, Amanda Rosenblatt, Glenn Oleksak, Carol and Rob Creamer, Fred Hafele, Evan "Joe Millionaire" Van Rossum, "Major Tom" Conroy, Shep Glennon, Dave MacArthur, ?, William "Guillermo" Fabel, Brad Baesic, "DJ Ray" Cordts, Chris Herbig, Doug Kiovski, ?, Chris Metaxas, ?, Susan Duncan, Haobo Lai, John Spiridon, ?, Joe Tag, Rob Trezza, Al MacLennan, Rich Pace, Eric Pace, ?, ?, ?.
For this, my 500th hike since starting it all up in March of 1997, there was sure to be a momentous occasion. I knew I wanted it to be something special if I made it this far. The hikes, the group, and I had come so far since the beginning.
In 1997, I knew I was a hiker, I'd started at the age of three and it never lost it's draw for me. I could never have imagined that after guiding a group of my closest friends along an abandoned rail bed for twenty miles that anyone would ever want to do something like that again, let alone do it on a weekly basis. To my surprise, it was the talk of the school, and I was asked to do it again. My friends sincerely enjoyed the trip and made me realize that it was beyond feasible to keep this up, it was something some people needed. I was not alone in the need to do some sort of substantial hike at least once a week, or to have the feeling of fellowship we get along the way. Everyone came away from each hike with something good, and each hike created a special bond between those who participated.
Looking back, it still seemed like just a passionate hobby for a few years, but it soon evolved into something larger than myself. We were an interconnected family of hikers, everyone having in common the fact that they'd hiked with me some considerable distance. I saw my close friends, many of whom had never even been out on a hike prior to their experiance with me taking it upon themselves to lead their own hikes with their new found friends. Beyond that, I saw them spending time together bowling, going to concerts and parties, and any other nameable social event.
I soon realized the reality was that I had created something larger than myself, the proud catalyst of life changing events for those close to me.
Indeed, the five-hundredth hike would have to be something special.
In the past, for the 300th and 400th hikes, we'd had huge parties to celebrate. Recently, when we would have a party people would tend to come to the party but ignore the hike. I had for some time been feeling like it was becoming a party group that sometimes hikes and not vise versa. While a celebration was to happen with the Union Forge Heritage Association at Solitude House, I wanted the focus of this one to be more on the hike, the new trail, and how it was a success story for myself and my group of friends who helped to make it all possible.
I had through work come into contact with Bill Honachefsky and offered to help complete the Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway Trail more than a year before. Bill struck me as an incredible passionate character, hell bent on completing this trail, a vision of the Union Forge Heritage Association. Having had some success in the past with trail work and developement, I asked for volunteers within my group to step forward to complete the keystone of the trail, the old Carnegie truss bridge at the TISCO site. Seven volunteers were able to remove the old decking and place half of the new decking in about a day. In addition, I blazed most of the new trail system to the International Standard in the following months. It was a fantastic project I was proud to be a part of; the trail is now used by people every day and is a benefit to the community.
My meeting point was the Wal Mart in Clinton, the end point of the hike. I'd put together a route to showcase two new trail systems and other wise unconnected parks in the area. I was really happy to see my friend, Highlands Trail Supervisor Glenn Oleksak show up. He told me how he wanted to return the favor since I always showed up to his events. In addition, I was joned by many newcomers including many members of the Hunterdon Hiking Club.
We started the hike at the main parking lot in High Bridge at the beginning of the Columbia Trail. I was feeling great having such a large supportive group with me. The energy was high from the beginning as Guillermo did some of his signiture vine swinging.
Guillermo swings along the Columbia Trail
We soon reached the beginning of the Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway on the right. I had earned the support of Hunterdon County on the creation of the new trail, and they agreed (mainly due to the support of my great former Director, John Trontis) to create the sign that would mark the entrance to the trail. I was assigned to the job of installing the sign with the assistance of other county workers.
Taylor Steelworkers sign I installed along the new Greenway Trail.
When it came to completing the sign, Bill came out to assist me when none of the other county employees could help. He also helped with staining. I then painted the letters and the job was done. Doug Kiovski, assistant park planner accompanied us on this hike as well, and he told me it was likely the best looking sign in the entire park system!
Columbia Trail, High Bridge
We continued walking the Columbia Trail from here across the driveway accesses and beyond the edge of town, with Lake Solitude below us to the right. The Hunterdon Hiking Club people continued ahead at a pretty fast pace, which sort of surpised me.
Columbia Trail
Columbia Trail
We turned off of the Columbia Trail in Readingsburg on the little side path before the bridge down to Cokesbury Road.
The bridge abutment in Readingsburg with lots of berries
We turned right under the bridge underpass, and there were tons of little japanese wine berries growing from the edge, just barely out of our reach. They were huge juicy ones that all we could do was stand and admire.
Old house in Stone Mill/Readingsburg.
We continued down Cokesbury Road and then started heading up hill on the other side.
Hiking Cokesbury Road
Everybody regrouped at the top of the hill on the corner of Hook Mountain Drive. I decided it would be better to take this road instead of trying to bushwhack through the craziness to the east of us to Amesbury Furnace.
Hook Mountain Road
We turned right and then followed Hook Mountain Road for a bit.
Along Hook Mountain Road
We didn't make it too far until we saw a crazy acting squirrel running around on the pavement. It was somehow injured, running around in circles. I don't know if it had been hit by a car or if it fell out of a tree, but it was acting nuts running around, and didn't try to run away from any of us.
Injured squirrel
Injured Squirrel on Hook Mountain Road
We continued on Hook Mountain out to Herman Thau Road.
Unsuccessful mirror shot
From here, we turned left for a little bit. When we reached near to the creek, we turned right into the woods.
Unmarked future extension of Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway
We descended to the flood plain of the creek on a nice obvious pathway. We continued down to where the path sort of petered out and another went to the right up hill.
Unmarked north section of the new trail just south of Herman Thau Road
We ascended to the loop trail section of the new Greenway Trail and made our way along the south side of it.
Along Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway Trail in the forested Springside Farm section
We soon came to the left turn where we headed out into the open fields of the Springside Farm park.
Springside Farm
We checked out the buildings here as we'd done in the past.
Springside Farm
Along the trail at Springside Farm
Springside Farm
Springside Farm
Springside Farm
Springside Farm barn
Springside Farm
Springside Farm
Springside Farm
Springside Farm
Everyone was wandering around the place and the rest of the group was going ahead. I had to get everyone back together and continue out along the old roadway to Nassau Road from the barns.
The Springside Farm House
Along the way we passed the historic Springside Farm House, a lovely old structure in danger of being destroyed. The town seems to think there's no saving it from what I understand despite efforts to do so.
We soon turned left off of the old lane and onto Nassau Road, a really nice back road.
Hiking the greenway trail along Nassau Road, High Bridge
We were on the road for a short distance, then turned right into the Nassau tract on the section of trail that had existed the longest.
Hiking the greenway trail through the Nassau Tract, High Bridge
This very nice section of trail took us through some evergreens and then down across a quaint little stream. We then headed slightly back up hill and onto another part of Nassau Road. The trail turned left down the road and directly across.
Union Forge's bloomey forge ruins
Across the road we were on an older road which led us down hill to the Union Bloomery Forge ruins, one of the oldest forge ruins in the country. We then turned right along a spur of the greenway along the old road to Solitude House Museum.
Solitude House Museum
We continued from here to the left across the grass and then down through the woods to the end of the old spur line from Taylor Wharton. We kept to the right to an old road way leading to the base of the dam at Lake Solitude. We seemed to have walked up on a guy and his girlfriend getting busy by the dam. That must have been something to have around thirty people just walk up on you!
Lake Solitude Dam
We hung around for a while, and the guy went up to jump off of the dam. I knew I wanted to give that a try, and so I walked up there with him. Everybody seemed to think I was crazy for trying, but it was incredible. I think Chris M actually got it on video (which is up on facebook, see my videos). We hung around for a while more. The Hunterdon Hiking Club people left early because we'd taken much less time than anticipated getting here. We ended up having to wait an hour or so.
Heading to the opening event
Along Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway Trail
When the time came we walked along the trail back out past Solitude and then through the easement over Custom Alloy property to the truss bridge we helped to deck.
The truss bridge my group and I helped to refurbish.
People were gathering in the area ready for the speakers to go up. There was a very nice presentation soon given by Mike and Bill, and speeches by a few different groups including John Trontis, park director for Hunterdon County who was the standout. Awards for services were given to people who were instrumental to the development of the trail including Matt Davis and myself, and Kyle posthumously. I accepted Kyle's as well as Shelly's on her behalf.
Event at the TISCO building
Resting as speeches were being given
Mike at the podium
at the TISCO building
Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway opening
Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway opening
My grandfather also came to see the ceremony and awards.
John Trontis gives an excellent speech
Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway opening
Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway opening
Matt is awarded for his work on the greenway bridge
Taylor Steelworkers Historic Greenway opening
After all of the speakers and awards, we moved over to the bridge where Bill had his grandmother cut the ribbon. Bill's grandfather was Union head for Taylor Wharton at one time. After the ribbon was cut we all walked to the Solitude House for refreshments.
Ribbon cutting at the bridge
Ribbon cutting at the bridge
There was all sorts of food including some terrific cookies. We hung out around the place for quite a while before moving on.
When we were ready to go we had gained some more participants including Rich Pace, Dave MacArthur, Shep Glennon, and one of Dave's friends.
Walking the Taylor Steelworker's Historic Greenway in High Bridge
When I walked across the bridge, I did so on the top of the trusses because that's certainly what Kyle would have done. I was followed up there by Glenn, as well as Joe Millionaire.
Glenn crossing the bridge on top of the truss
Crossing the carnegie truss bridge
We walked by the TISCO building which had mock ups of the new interpretive signs along it for the ceremony, then into the woods on the northeast side. We ascended up hill toward the Columbia Trail.
Ascending from the TISCO site on the greenway trail
Ascending toward Columbia Trail
We stopped to swing on some vines along the way.
Swingin'
Swinging on vines along the greenway trail, High Bridge
We reached the top where we were earlier in the day, closing in the loop at the new sign I had built for the trail.
The new sign I built at the trail head
New trail head sign I built with the help of Bill H.
We turned left on the Columbia Trail and followed it out to it's end where we met in the morning. We then turned left on the main street through the town of High Bridge. Chris and his date both cut out early here since they were close to the cars.
The rest of us continued down to Mill Street and Union Forge Park near to where we were before. We walked right through Union Forge along the grassy ball fields and into the woods to the South Branch of the Raritan River at the double culvert for the river and road to go under the former Central Railroad of NJ.
Site of the original "High Bridge" where we took a dip
This was also the site of the original High Bridge from which the town took it's name. When the railroad was built in the early 1850s there was a long high bridge made of wood, on piers that were reportedly spaced much too far apart. The trains crossing the trestle would sag as they crossed each span.
Site of the original "High Bridge"
It was decided that it be filled in with a culvert. During the filling process reportedly there were deaths, and bodies were left in the fill, and there was also a locomotive dropped in the fill and not retrieved.
Site of the original "High Bridge"
Many of us crossed over the river here to the road and took a swim, while other climbed to the top of the culvert and crossed there.
South Branch culvert in High Bridge
I was surprised that the water was so deep in front of the arch and got the idea to swim through. Guillermo, Dave, and I all swam through, and it never got to a level we could tough bottom!
The tunnel we swam through
The water was a little weird colored; since it's so deep and it can't all go anywhere the water within the culvert might be a bit more contaminated. Still, we had a good time going through and climbed back out the other side with no problems.
West side of the culvert
We continued walking at first along Arch Street, but then there was a good path along the river in the Arches Section of the South Branch Reservation to the right, so we paralleled the road and river in there. The road soon became Jericho Road after another road turned right toward 513 across the river. We continued ahead through ball fields parallel on the left at first, then back onto the road to the next intersection, Gray Rock Road.
We split the group here, Rich Pace led the group to the right who would go around to access the Riverfield Section of the South Branch Reservation from Rt 31 while I would take the group left on the same road to where the river came close, bushwhack down and wade across.
Descending off trail to Riverfield
We walked the road and looked for a good place to go in, but all of it was all heavily posted with no trespassing signs. I just found the spot where it got closest to the river, and when there were no cars around we shot on down toward the river. Just upstream from the nicest swimming spot in Riverfield, ad the upstream side of a sharp bend in the river was a great place to cross.
Riverfield Section of the South Branch Reservation
Taking a break on the Riverfield Trail
We hung around at the swimming hole in Riverfield for quite a while waiting for Rich and the others to show up. They arrived with Joe with them, and we all continued our nice break. A lot of us kept jumping off the logs into the deep spot of the river.
Glen getting ready to jump off a log at Riverfield
xoxo
xoxo
xoxo
Riverfield Trail
After our break we continued along the Riverfield Trail to the left. I had flagged off this trail originally with Bill Clother and Laura Kroon with the Hunterdon Parks Department, and then as a volunteer I helped to do the final clearing and blazing on Hunterdon Trails Day. Through work I also worked to construct puncheons and DR Mowed (heavy duty mower) the entire trail, so this was yet another trail I was very much responsible for.
Hiking the new Riverfield Trail
Riverfield Section of the South Branch Reservation
Hiking the Riverfield Trail
Puncheon I built in part on the Riverfield Trail
Hiking up out of Riverfield
The trail wrapped around the edge of a field section and then headed into the woods at the close of the lollipop loop. We then crossed over the low part of the flood plain on a series of three puncheons.
The trail ascended from the flood plain on sort of an old woods road access up to what used to be fields, but was now the Riverfield hospital place which was part of the Hunterdon Medical Center with a huge parking lot. There was also another nice sign for Riverfield which I also worked to stain and paint.
The new Riverfield sign I stained and painted
Hiking out of Riverfield. This is the kind of terrain where Guillermo becomes a Rhino
We turned left off trail out to a line of trees that separated us from Rt 31, then made our way through a cut in the trees onto a lawn on the other side along the highway.
After leaving Riverfield, we came upon this convenient sign on Rt 31
I believe this was in Dunkin Donuts along 31..."I Love Jew York"?
In the restroom, along Rt 31
We walked across Rt 31 dodging traffic, and then made a bit of a pit stop at the Dunkin Donuts I think it was, at a little gas station for some snacks and drinks. We then continued on parallel with Rt 31 through some parking lots to the left. I remember cutting through hedge rows and such to the cemetary.
Cemetary in Clinton
We soon entered the cemetary and and walked on an angle across it heading out toward Rt 513 into Clinton.
Clinton Cemetary
We walked down Rt 513 on the right side past the library and little park, and past the useless Dunham Park on the left which only goes to the river and stops, then down hill to the bridge over the South Branch.
Old Red Mill in Clinton from the bridge on Rt 513
The South Branch in Clinton
The South Branch in Clinton
There were really nice views of the South Branch from the bridge, as well as down stream to the famous Old Red Mill of Clinton. After crossing the bridge we turned right onto Center Street and came out next to the old mill converted to an art museum and the best view of the Old Red Mill.
Old Red Mill in Clinton
Downtown Clinton
We continued on along the stone walled edge of the river and onto the historic old yellow truss bridge back across the South Branch. In the next year, a lady crashed into that historic bridge with her car, and the fate of it was undetermined. Fortunately, the county bridge crew came through and saved the structure, and it was promptly reopened.
Old Red Mill from the historic truss bridge
Clinton's historic truss bridge
Old stone mill, now an art museum in Clinton NJ
After crossing the bridge, the Old Red Mill museum was closed so we turned left and took a nice little break along the river.
Taking a break in Clinton near the old mill
Beginning of the Landsdowne Trail, Clinton
We then continued along Rt 173 to the right, past the old Clinton House restaurant, and out toward the lumber company where we picked up the beginning the the Landsdown Trail, formerly the Clinton Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad. This took us south past the old railroad station and under Rt 78.
Landsdown Trail, Clinton
The trail took us close to the South Branch again and then across an access road to the water company property. We were now nearing the end point, with our destination, the Shop Rite, Wal Mart, and other stores on a hill above us to the right. The "Cracker Barrel" sign actually stood out the most.
After a short distance, where we found a cut into the fields to the right, we turned off of the trail.
Hiking Landsdown Meadows
We would now be following a trail that I had proposed to the trails committee for Hunterdon Parks, but they of course did nothing about. The proposed trail would take to the field perimeters and ascend to the parking lots for all of the businesses above. It was a perfect idea because it would bring patronage to those stores, and of course allow for more access and parking to the Landsdown Trail below. That particular trail had no parking on the north side, street parking in Clinton was necessary, and on the south side there was only pull off parking. The proposal was perfect, but I still can't expect that department to make any sense.
View in Landsdown Meadows
We turned into Landsdown Meadows and followed the edges of the fields, using my phone GPS to get us to the most direct route up to the parking lot. The field perimeters were pretty well grown in and very little access was possible. We had to take a circuit out of the way a bit to get where we needed to go, but that route offered us a fantastic view.
Landsdown Meadows
We continued through the fields until we came to the base of the ascent toward the parking lot.
Navigating Landsdown Meadows
There was sort of an old woods road of some sort that went into those woods. We tried to follow it but it was very overgrown and full of mulitiflora rose. As we went further through there was a huge blowdown which probably worked in our favor because it flattened some of the brush.
Mmmmm berries
There were also a lot of berries in the area. I climbed up on top of the log to see if I could find a better way to get through. Some of the group did take a different way, but I think my way ended up being best. Either way, we all came through with a few cuts I'm certain.
Coming up from Landsdown Meadows
We ascended a bit along the old road which started clearing up around here, and soon came to a little pond that I didn't even know existed. It was probably just a retention pond, but was an attractive enough feature nonetheless to make my trail proposal look even better because it added diversity to the route.
Little pond below the Shop Rite in Clinton
Along the pond
We ascended a bit more on the old woods road and it easily led us back up to the parking lot.
Old road ascending from a pond in Landsdown Meadows to Shop Rite
View of the pond from above near the parking lot
To our right we could look down upon the pond we were just at with more of a view beyond. Following the finish of this hike I would propose the trail yet again, and although our Director John Trontis was for it and thought it sounded good, other members said that someone would have to contact the businesses up there and see if they wanted it, as well as the town. It was clear that no one would contact them, or that they were even interested in doing so. Of course most of the businesses would like it was my opinion, and I may still approach them with the idea.
View of the pond from the Shop Rite parking lot
As we walked across the parking lot sometimes admiring a bit of a view, Glenn commented that he didn't even want the hike to be over yet.
Indeed, it was a great time. The hike was everything I wanted it to be: diverse in both terrain and participants, celebratory, substantial, high energy, and very happy.
Jillane and I didn't go out to dinner afterward, there was no party or anything. While I enjoy going out to eat, I was content finishing the day with what it was; a perfect hike with great friends and something I could share and be proud of.
No comments:
Post a Comment