Hike #512 9/11/10
9/11/10 Watchung Reservation/Clark Area with Jillane Becker, Rob Creamer, Ryan Novosielski, Al Maclennan, Jim Schlenker, Joe Tag, Jack Lowry, and Susan Duncan.
taking a break in Feltville
Trail behind Knights of Columbus place near Bryant Park
My next hike would be across Union County, finishing up at Union County's music festival. I had originally planned on this hike beginning in Summit, until Joe Tag called me with an awesome alternative. He told me of a route on the phone, and e mailed me as well, that would be very similar to many of the other hikes I had led over the years.We spotted cars in the vicinity of Clark NJ and then shuttled north to near Summit NJ, a park known as Briant Park, along Briant Parkway. There was a paved trail along the road. We were joined here by newcomer Ryan Novosielski.We headed south on the parkway to Orchard Street, made a brief right and then a left on Orchard to Harvard, then went left to Shunpike. This led us to the Knights of Columbus Lodge as Joe had instructed. His directions told me to go right and to the back of the lodge where there was a good trail. We of course found it very easily and entered the woods.We headed through the woods a bit and ascended to cross an abandoned railroad with tracks still in place. I was familiar with this line, and we'd crossed it the previous Spring with Kyle on the Rahway River greenway hike but further south.We were now in I believe Hidden Valley Park. There were no marked trails or anything, but the route to the right heading above the tracks was pretty obvious. Our next bit of directions told us of a fork or something I think. Joe told us he left a snickers bar (it was only a wrapper) in the trail that was the correct way. I took the wrapper with me, I'll have you know.We passed a weird stone pile and Joe's directions told us to go left at some point. I think the first trail I took to the left took us close to Rt 78, but not where we wanted to be. There had been a missing bridge site on what was once an old road that I assumed we were not to cross, but I was wrong. We ended up in an area with mountain bike jumps but the trail really went nowhere. We headed back down to the woods road trail we'd been on and I tried to call Joe for directions, but couldn't get through. We did see a pile of stones weirdly placed but I don't think that was Joe's doing.He had told us he placed an arrow on the trail pointing the way we needed to go, but I didn't see it at the last turn. I did see sticks in the trail that could have been an arrow that someone knocked into a mess, but we weren't sure. Continueing ahead proved to us that we were heading the correct way because we indeed came upon Joe's arrow.We continued from here on the path which was very nice, and ascended a hill. It then took us somewhat close to Rt 78 on the left.The trail then passed a couple little ponds on the right as it paralleled Rt 78 heading west. I got a call back from Joe and he clarified the route we were to take up ahead, which was pretty simply follow Rt 78 just into the woods on the unmarked trail out to Baltusrol Rd I think.When we reached Baltusrol Road, we didn't come out to it or cross it, but rather turned left. The road had a sort of extra walkway on the left hand side full of trees and such. I suppose it was intended to be a gateway for both wildlife and hikers. At the other end, we turned right across the road and descended on a driveway into the Watchung Reservation. We were able to follow this to a trail which led after a bit to the Sierra Trail, a long trail through the Watchung Reservation. We turned right when we reached it. The trail soon took us out to Tracy Drive after a very nice section of woods. It was here that we found another parking area and Lake Surprise. We took a break here before moving on. The Blue Brook which was the lake's main tributary had some nice marsh land on the west side.Sierra Trail crossed over the lake on the road bridge and then re entered the woods. Jim Schlenker was telling us about how he had maintained some of the trails here I believe. I originally wasn't going to stick to the Sierra Trail, but I changed the route because it's not often you get to hike a section of trail with the guy who worked on it.There was some nice trail work along the way as well. I was happy the blazing was pretty good on this one, and there were some nice efforts put into getting the trail over wet areas. The trail took us along the north shore of Lake Surpise and then up and down through some nice woods.The next point of interest we came upon on the Sierra Trail was an old cemetary. We stopped for a bit to check out the old stones.The trail soon led out to an old road and turned left. We descended a bit and soon were in the deserted village of Feltville. I'd been wanting to do a hike through here for quite a while. None of the buildings were in terrible shape at all. We walked on through and examined the places. None were open that we could just walk into.There was actually a barn there, I believe known as Maskers Barn, that was in the process of being restored. It was sad to see so many great historic old homes in such a state of decay. Worse, they were all in good enough shape that they could be saved, but if something is not done soon they could easily be lost. We stopped for a lunch break, and Jillane and I went back through the town to take more pictures of the buildings, then took a nice little break on a porch.We continued along the trail, and somewhere in here we were joined by Joe Tag. The trail led out of Feltville and into some woods over some higher ground, then crossed a nice boardwalk.I think we soon crossed over Sky Top Drive, then ascended on the other side to a bit of a view looking somewhat west. The trail continued from this area along the top of a little ridge with some rocky outcroppings.The trail descended a bit, and there must have been a quarry operation or something that once went on here because we came to a cut that looked exactly like an old railroad cut, though I'm not familiar with any that were active in the reservation. The map shows there were quarry ruins in the area.We headed down hill a little bit and closesly paralleled the Green Brook. Below me to the right I saw a nice rock outcropping directly over the Green Brook, and the water looked plenty deep. I couldn't resist the urge to try to jump off of it. I did it quickly, and it was perfect. What a great swimming spot it was.I got out and caught back up with the rest of the group who were already on their way without me!Just ahead were more ruins along the Sierra Trail. There was a large pipe, concrete walls, and what were certainly roads of some kind at one time. I suppose this must have been more of what was referred to as the quarry operation site.There was one wall that looked as though it had only collapsed from the embankment this same year, as the ground behind it looked fresh.Somewhere in here we were joined by Jack and Susie who had parked in the developed area ahead. Jack's Strikesound group were doing the sound for one of the acts at the Music Fest and so he had to come late.We all turned off of the Sierra Trail to Union Ave leaving Watchung Reservation.We walked some roads briefly and soon came to the McDonalds in Scotch Plains where we had our lunch break. I walked into the store and ordered some food and the girl behind the counter said "DAAAAMN! IZZAT a FOUR LOCO??? LEMME GET A SWIGGA DAT!". I handed it to her and she took a chug, while all of her co workers' jaws dropped as they stared at her. So funny. We continued on across Rt 22 and headed to a utility right of way that led southeast. We must have crossed several streets like Second, Midway, and Paterson. I can't remember much of the roads. I think we even had to take a detour around one section where it was fenced.I think somewhere around North Avenue we found a giant drain pipe which looked far too awesome not to check out, so we went in.Jillane and I were up front of the group heading back.We got a ways back when we thought we'd heard and possibly saw someone else back in there, so we hurried back on out, somewhat freaked out.This would be a cool place to go back to to see where it came out, but I can't think of why we'd ever want to walk that power line again! We continued south from here along the line from here.We soon came to the former Jersey Central Railroad tracks in Fanwood. I had hiked through here before parallel with these tracks, but I actually don't remember it looking the same at all. It was here we also found Fanwood Liquors and I got another Four Loco. Jack got one as well, and paid for mine. I think I was more loopy and sick from that stuff on this hike than ever, and so after this hike I limited my intake.On the other side we had to try to find a way to get back onto the power line. I recall everyone went one way while I went along what appeared to be an abandoned building and then bushwhacked through a line of thick trees to get out.Next, we followed the power line south and came across the Fanwood Nature Center, a park which actually had a trail system I did not know existed. This might be the justification to come back to the area after all! We didn't follow these trails this time, instead keeping to the power line since we had a ways to go.We crossed several roads, the last one being Raritan Road, and continued toward Oak Ridge Golf Course, where the Union County Music Fest was being held. I think that was it anyway. When we started getting close the plan was to bushwhack into the woods to the left to get out to it. This was much tougher than I'd expected it would be. It was heavy weeds, and a lot of marsh land. If we had continued on the power line we would have had to wade through a stream. I think Al and Jim ended up doing that!We managed to work our way through a lot of it, and there were berms along the sides of brooks we were able to walk around. Somehow, I got separated from the rest of the group and ended up going a bit more south. I'm not sure if they just walked through the marsh land or what, but I was soon in a bit of land higher and dryer, and then made my way up to the active railroad tracks that I believe used to be Lehigh Valley Railroad.The others were a bit further north from me. I went back in the woods and started heading toward where I could hear their voices, and then found them. In the woods here there was a really nice fire pit and a crazy little shelter.After this we crossed back over the tracks into the Union County Music Festival and wandered around. I don't remember why we hung around for as long as we did because we didn't end up staying to watch the concert that night as I recall. There were some cool big nams playing the place, but I don't remember who was on for that night that we didn't stay for. The next night I would love to have seen, The Zombies featuring Rod Argent, but I didn't go then either.Still, we hung around until dark and a lot of people were showing up. Action Adam and Amanda were there at some point too but decided to leave. They should have tried to meet up much earlier and they would have had a much better time.We must have walked Oak Ridge Road to Featherbed Lane to Inman, then down Inman to where we were parked. It seemed like that road walk went on forever. We should have, in retrospect, walked the tracks, it would have been quicker, but oh well.
Trail behind Knights of Columbus place near Bryant Park
Old rail road tracks
Old railroad tracks
Joe Tag left us clues on how to follow the path like this one...
Stone pile in Hidden Valley Park
Part of our Joe Tag scavenger hunt hike. One of the signs he left us on how to go!
Jillane on the trail through Hidden Valley Park
Jillane in Hidden Valley Park
Pond next to Hidden Valley Park
Pedestrian trail crossing on Summit Road
Lake Surprise
Marsh lands along Blue Brook from Tracy Drive
Blue Brook
Nice trail improvements in Watchung Reservation, Sierra Trail
Lake Surprise, Watchung Reservation
Old cemetary in Watchung Reservation, Sierra Trail
Tomb stone in Watchung Reservation
Deserted village of Feltville, Watchung Reservation
Deserted village of Feltville, Watchung Reservation
Deserted village of Feltville, Watchung Reservation
Deserted village of Feltville, Watchung Reservation
Deserted village of Feltville, Watchung Reservation
Deserted village of Feltville, Watchung Reservation
Deserted village of Feltville, Watchung Reservation
Deserted village of Feltville, Watchung Reservation
Taking a break in Feltville
Taking a break in Feltville
Sierra Trail boardwalk near the Drake Farm Site, Watchung Reservation
View west from the Sierra Trail, west end of Watchung Reservation
Rocky outcroppings along Sierra Trail, western Watchung Reservation
A cut of some sort just off of Sierra Trail, Watchung Reservation near New Providence Road
Great swimming hole in the Green Brook along Sierra Trail, Watchung Reservation
Old quarry operation, Watchung Reservation
Old Quarry Operation, Watchung Reservation
At an old quarry site along Sierra Trail
Old quarry site, Watchung Reservation
Collapsed wall at an old quarry site, Watchung Reservation
Joe along Sierra Trail, Watchung Reservation's old quarry site
At McDonalds in Scotch Plains NJ
McDonalds in Scotch Plains
McDonalds in Scotch Plains
Crossing Rt 22, Scotch Plains NJ
Giant pipe
Giant pipe south of Scotch Plains
Power line
Power line
Crossing former CNJ railroad tracks, Fanwood NJ
Abandoned building, Fanwood
Fanwood Nature Center Trail Map
Fanwood Nature Center Trail Map
Crossing swamp land on Union County property
Former Lehigh Valley Railroad tracks
Shelter in the woods near the tracks
Great fire pit
Awesome fire pit
Union County Music Fest
Taking a break at Union County's Music Fest
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