Hike #541 2/19/11
2/19/11 Clinton to Frenchtown with Jillane Becker, Ron Phelps, Jason-Michael "Jamal" Flintosh, Ira Rubinstein, Jack Lowry, Susan Duncan, Amanda Rosenblatt, Chris Metaxas, Kathy Kindness Ruppel, Eric Pace, Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, and "Major Tom" Conroy.
Taking a break on Creek Road near Frenchtown
This hike would lead us between the towns of Clinton and Frenchtown NJ. Looking at maps over the years, I had always envisioned hiking a route between Pittstown and Frenchtown following scenic back roads. There were railroad rights of way that would lead us from Clinton to Pittstown, and then part of the way to Frenchtown was a dirt road. I held this in the back of my mind to use as a winter hike when there was snow on the ground.
I met the group in Frenchtown, next to the old railroad station off of Bridge Street, and along the Delaware River. Amanda went the wrong way to get to us and had to meet in Clinton.
I was feeling kind of bitter about hiking in Hunterdon, because only about four days earlier I was permanantly laid off from the Hunterdon County Parks Department, which is turning into more of a mess than it was. I kept in mind that the parks are really fantastic even if I don't like how they're managed.
We had had some good melt off during the week, but there was still a good amount of snow on the ground so we opted to do this hike. It was a good thing we did, because it would have been quite difficult. We took Jillane's, Ira's, and Mr. Buckett's car to Clinton and spotted them at the school off of School Street.
Paved path coming from the school in Clinton
Paved path down to Leigh Street, Clinton NJ
We followed a paved path that went from the school down hill to Leigh Street next to the Rt 78 underpass. We turned right on Leigh Street followed by a left onto Rt 173 and crossed over the South Branch of the Raritan River. On the other side we made a pit stop at the Krauszers mini mart. They had no good chocolate milk, so I got myself some sort of weird generic power bar and a Reece's Fast Break.
Across from Clinton House, Clinton NJ
We passed the Clinton House restaurant and then turned left across some parking lots to the lumber company and old Clinton Railroad Station, northern terminus of the former Clinton Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and now the route of the Landsdown Trail, part of the Hunterdon County Parks Department. Amanda met up with us here, having parked a bit further south and accessed the trail from the service road near the Clinton Wal Mart.
Landsdown Trail in Clinton
For more information about the Landsdown Trail, in addition to most of the other rail trails in Hunterdon County, check out the following link to an article I wrote years ago for Skylands Visitor Magazine:
http://www.njskylands.com/od_hikerailhc_082.htm
We continued south along the Landsdown Trail, crossing the service road near Wal Mart along the way. The trail was still incredibly icy, and a few of us took some spills. It was strange that sometimes the only place within sight that even had ice was the trail itself.
We continued south and crossed the trestle over the Capoolong Creek before reaching the end of the trail. The old railroad car that had once been on the southern end of the trail had been removed earlier in the year. I was sad to see it go, because I thought it really added to the draw of the trail.
Former Clinton Branch of the LV Railroad in Landsdown
We crossed Landsdown Road and continued south on the non trail portion of the former Clinton Branch, what used to be the connector to the west bound Lehigh Valley Railroad main line. We crossed the tracks and the road and entered the woods on the former Pittstown Branch of the Lehigh Valley Railroad which would take us 3.9 miles further in what was now Capoolong Creek Wildlife Management Area.
Crossing Sidney Road I think, Capoolong Creek Trail
We crossed over Rt 617. Here, what was once an older bridge as I recalled, had been replaced, but the old trusses were re-attached to the sides for looks. I prefer seeing this done rather than having a nice looking bridge replaced for an ugly modern one.
We walked on and then crossed Lower Kingtown Road. The group was getting pretty split up by this time. A lot of the were up pretty far ahead. From Lower Kingtown, the rail bed followed beside a driveway for a bit and then crossed it.
The group just south of Lower Kingtown Road, Capoolong Creek Trail
Cow near Lower Kingtown Road and driveway along Capoolong Creek Trail
There were cows on a hillside field to the left of us as we crossed the driveway. We continued along the trail which was constantly following the creek with lovely view all along the way. We were pretty much always on a shelf with the creek to the right. We crossed Lower Kingtown Road again at a spot where the trail continued across through an open field.
Along former Pittstown Branch, Capoolong Creek Trail
The trail took us around a bend and past the side trail that Chris and I had followed the previous time, and were certainly not going to follow again this time! We continued around and soon came to yet another crossing ofKingtown Road, at a lovely farmstead. We crossed at an intersection where Kingtown Road split, and Upper and Lower Kingtown Road continued in either direction.
Farmstead on Kingtown Road.
Capoolong Creek Trail, former Pittstown Branch RR
We continued into more woods and soon came to meet back up with most of the group who had decided to hold up for us at a bridge crossing of a Capoolong Creek tributary.
Bridge along Capoolong Creek Trail
From here, the trail took us more to the south and soon closely parallel with White Bridge Road, then across into more woods with sweeping bends along the edge of the creek, with the railroad bed on a narrow shelf.
Pittstown Branch abandonment along Capoolong Creek
The rail bed leveled out onto a wider and flatter area and we soon reached the former Pittstown Railroad Station, still in similar shape to when I first saw it many years before. We took a little break here. One of the secondary buildings opposite the station was also still standing, with a tarp over it. Unfortunately the tarp had already fallen from the roof of the Pittstown Station.
Former Pittstown Railroad Station
I got a phone call here from Chris who told me that unfortunately the deli was open, and that he and some of the others had continued to the Pittstown Inn.
We all continued from here up the driveway and over the busted up wooden bridge to Rt 615 and turned right to the Pittstown Inn. Formerly the colonial Century Inn, this beautiful building was once completed gutted by fire, but then rebuilt on it's stone frame. Some waited outside for their lunch break, while many of us went in for some food and drinks.
Jamal stops for lunch at Pittstown Inn
Inside, Jamal ordered an "Apple Jolly Ranger" in his "Gary Gay" persona. He was wearing a construction helmet I had given him in October of 2008 for a construction themed hike, and he still had it.
Jillane ordered some Maceroni and Cheese, and it was the best she'd ever had. I had some of it and it was indeed great. It was so tasty looking that Jamal, Eric, and I think Amanda each had to order one of their own. This took us a little longer but oh well.
In Pittstown Inn, former Century Inn
The others who waited outside did come in to look at the historic photos that were on the wall, including some of the fire that gutted the building. After our lunch we headed out, and made a right turn on southbound Rt 513 for a short distance. This was one of the only sections of larger road walk we would take on this hike, and it wasn't long before we'd turn off of it into a development to the left.
Chris had a previous engagement, and so had to cut out at this point where we had him spot his car in the morning.
Pittstown Inn, former Century Inn
Mowed paths near Jeremiah Lane and Shy Manor Lane.
Our left was onto Shy Creek Road. The map showed there was public land along the back of part of the development, but we didn't see a way in so we didn't bother trying to cut through. We just followed the road to a right turn on Emily Road, then another right on Shy Creek Road cutting a corner. At the end of this road we turned left onto Jeremiah Lane out to Sky Manor Road and turned right. There were a lot of mowed paths in a field area to the left of the intersection, apparently part of an Alexandria Township open space, but it made no sense to try to follow these pointlessly looping paths next to the road.
Walking Sky Manor Road, Pittstown
Sky Manor Airport entrance
We soon reached Sky Manor Airport on the right. There was a restaurant there open to public that my co worker Bandit had told me about, but I had forgotten to hold off and eat there. As we walked along the road, we saw a helicopter going by.
He was doing some sort of stunts, keeping very close to the ground but doing really quick turn arounds, and hovering for a bit.
Helicopter stunts at Sky Manor
After a short while it was obvious that he saw this group walking by and decided to show off. His turns became a bit crazier, and he seemed to get closer to the road. As we continued to walk down the road, his route changed to be closest to the way we were walking, and we certainly didn't mind because it added a lot of interest to what would have otherwise been just a rather boring road walk.
We knew that he knew we were watching him when he stopped the chopper right beside me and posed for a picture.
The helicopter pilot stops to pose
Sky Manor Airport seemed to go on forever, and the pilot continued to move on down the runway, and then into a different field parallel with where we were as we continued heading southwest. He finally headed on back when we were no longer along the airport.
The next point of interest we came across was St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
St. Thomas Episcopal Church near Sky Manor Airport
The building was made of stone, and the graves dated back to at least the mid 1800s, so it was certainly quite old. The rest of the group who had gotten ahead were waiting here in a little garden to the northwest side of the cemetery for us to catch up.
At St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Graves growing into trees at St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Cemetery at St. Thomas Episcopal Church
We took a little break in the cemetery and waited for everyone else to catch up. It was so old that a tree had begun to grow around one of the tomb stones. I walked over to the church to look inside, and there was only room for a small congregation, with a tiny alter backed by a large church style window minus the stained glass.
Also while we waited, we teased Major Tom about needing a hug, and Jamal did a crazy dance to the music of his MP3 player for everyone.
Big tree along Sky Manor Road
We replaced a sign that read "Believe" Jamal had been dancing with to it's home in the cemetery garden and moved on along Sky Manor Road down hill to an intersection with Senator Stout Road, passing a lovely huge tree along the way. We continued straight ahead on Senator Stout.
Along Senator Stout Road
Lovely barns on Senator Stout Road
We headed up hill ever so slightly and passed by some beautiful huge barns on the left. The road sort of leveled off soon, and we passed by Delaware Valley Regional High School. This must have been a huge school district, because homes were not very close together, and I don't know of many other schools throughout the area. We passed by and continued along Senator Stout Road heading slightly down hill now.
Barns along Senator Stout Road
We soon came to the intersection with Rt 519 where we made a left hand turn heading slightly down hill more. At the bottom of the hill we crossed a bridge over the Nishisakawick Creek, and then turned right onto Creek Road, a nice little back road leading from here all the way into the town of Frenchtown.
Private bridge over Nishisakawick Creek
Took this one for Wheeler.
The road descended gradually, paved but narrow, along the Nishisakawick Creek, and passed an intersection with another road called Tinsman. It seemed to be even less traveled after this point, because few cars came up on us or from behind us. There were a few homes, especially nearer to the north end, but most were flag lots off of the road on longer driveways because of the narrowness of the ravine.
Cliffs above the Nishisakawick Creek
Creek Road above the Nishisakawick
The road made man sharp bends, making slight ascents and descents as it kept to a shelf above the left side of the creek. The group again started getting split up here, with Jack, Susie, Eric, Amanda, and Major Tom getting out of sight behind the rest of us up front.
Nishisakawick Creek
Frozen falls along Creek Road
We continued walking the road on these high shelves until we could find a good place to take a break and wait up for them. We found this in a little bridge underpass suitable for sitting, below a frozen cascade tributary where the road was on a very high shelf above the Nishisakawick. Ron pointed out that almost directly across from where we chose to sit was where one of Rich Pace's private trails from his new residence came down to the creek. I had hope to have him out on this hike since it was so close to his house, but he had a prior engagement. Still, this gave me a feel for the area and I had already started considering how I could link up hikes in the area to his house and trail system.
Hottie
We waited at the bridge for quite a while; behind us no one from the rest of the group had come into sight for about fifteen minutes. It was getting colder, and in this ravine without as much sunlight even moreso. Ron, Ira, and Kathy decided to go ahead of the rest of the group to keep moving, while the rest of us held back. Amanda showed up pretty quick and Jack and Susie were almost to us at this point, but there was no sign of Eric and Major Tom. Eric had called me, and we told him we were waiting. It took a little while but they finally caught up.
Tributary to the Nishisakawick Creek from Creek Road
We continued walking Creek Road down toward Frenchtown. Just a short distance from where we were taking our break it became dirt and even narrower than before. We passed by some more nice tributaries on their way down to the Nishisakawick as the road began to level out and the light of day became stronger as we neared Frenchtown.
Along the dirt portion of Creek Road near Frenchtown NJ
Dirt section of Creek Road near Frenchtown
Just as we got to where we could see some of the development of town, there was a municipal park on the right hand side. I spotted a small bridge of suspension design crossing the creek and had to check it out. No one else had any interest in it, so I hurried on over.
Suspension foot bridge over the Nishisakawik Creek in Frenchtown
I crossed the bridge, which swung a little bit, then followed a trail that went up stream along the creek for a bit. This led me to more cables attached to the trees, but there was no sign of a predecessor bridge or any other practical use for it. It did not cross the creek or do anything. I didn't follow the unmarked trail much further, due to time constraints, but wanted to come back. This could be our connector trail to Rich Pace's new place.
See Saw in Frenchtown park
I walked back through the park toward the town end of it, and asked a young guy in a Punisher shirt with his son if he knew where that trail went. He said "I don't know, but it goes for a looooong way up the creek". I continued over to the playground where I got on a see saw with Jillane.
Playground in Frenchtown
This was not one of those new playgrounds with the lame safety conscious playground equipment, it was one of those older ones Jillane and I love so much, with the spinning merry go round things and equipment made of metal. There was one lame plastic thing, and unfortunately the old metal swing set had had the swings removed, but the framework remained.
See Sawing in Frenchtown
Mr Buckett, Frenchtown Playground
While Jillane and I bounced up and down on the see saw, the others messed around with the neat old merry go round thing to the left of us. Susie and Amanda were on it for the longest, and practically made themselves sick with Jack and Jamal pushing them in circles.
There were a lot of people in the playground and we must have looked like a bunch of nuts.
Playground in Frenchtown
Playground in Frenchtown
Playground in Frenchtown
See saw in Frenchtown
See Sawing in Frenchtown
There was no sign of Ron, Ira, or Kathy here, as they continued on to their vehicles. We hung out for quite a while. It's always good to end a hike with a nice old playground.
See sawing in Frenchtown
See sawing in Frenchtown
See sawing in Frenchtown
We headed out of the playground by way of a pathway to Kingwood Ave. I watched the side of the Nishisakawick Creek to see if there were any ruins because I had been watching a level grade off to the edge of the far side of the creek as it made it's way parallel down stream. It just seemed to end at town.
The pathway led us out to Kingwood Ave.
Merry go round in Frenchtown
We crossed the creek on the road bridge and then turned left onto Race Street into town. We passed by some nice little stores and the street name changed to Bridge Street at a corner. We made our way back to the old Frenchtown Railroad station where we had met in the morning and came to our cars. Kathy had had to leave to tend to her son, but Ira and Ron were there.
Jamal left, but he accidently forgot to remove his camera case from the top of his car and drove off with it up there, as I found out while writing this today. Too bad.
Ron lived just north of there, so we didn't ask him to help us with car shuttling, and Eric and Jack took us back to Clinton to close out the day.
xoxo
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