2/26/11 Emmaus to Bethlehem with Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, "Commando Tom" Petrucci, Laura Allen Cunningham, Jason Kumpas, Ron Phelps, Teun Ott, Danny Black Janes, Evan "Joe Millionaire" Van Rossum, Chris "Cupcake" Kroshinski, and Shelly Janes.
Group shot on the tracks in Emmaus PA
My next hike would be a point to point in the Lehigh Valley, PA, to end at our friend Mr. Buckett's house for the fourth annual Buckettfest event.
I put together a diverse route that would involve trails, railroads both active and abandoned, Lehigh Canal, cemeteries, and more. I met the group at 8:30 at the Dunkin Donuts off of Catasaqua Road by Mr. Buckett's house and then shuttled cars south to Emmaus.
Large tree on the orange trail, South Mountain Preserve
We started our hike on Alpine Street in Emmaus, at the beginning of the trails in the South Mountain Preserve. I had never done this preserve before, and had wanted to get to it for quite some time. There were trail maps at the kiosk near the trail head, and we used them to follow an orange blazed trail first to the left slightly. This was called the Alpine Street Trail.
Mr. Buckett on an old cistern along the orange trail, South Mountain Preserve, Emmaus PA
The trail took us back and forth on a sort of switch back. There were abandoned trails blocked over by sticks along the way, abandoned due to washouts. They led to the same place anyway. The orange trail took us past a large pit, some sort of old quarry that I don't know the history of, then around it to the left. We ascended part of South Mountain and came to an old foundation to the left, some sort of cistern or something. We then continued on a very nicely side hilled path along the steep slope.
Orange trail in South Mountain Preserve, PA
Quarry below from the orange trail, south mountain
As we walked along the trail we could see the quarry we'd passed earlier below us. The trail descended slightly and we came to an awesome area with giant boulders strewn about. The trail passed between them, and there was a small cave behind the one to the left where apparently kids like to go to party. We continued from here along the orange trail and passed a red trail to the left. We'd have to come back to do this one another time.
Giant rock along the orange trail, South Mountain Preserve
Seasonal view on South Mountain, Emmaus PA
We next came to a spot where we could see some of the buildings in Emmaus below. It wasn't a great seasonal view point, but we continued on and soon found a much better one. The trail passed this point and another trail junction, but we stayed on the orange and gradually headed down hill. Much of the woods was free of snow, and it was fantastic to be able to walk on a trail without trudging through the snow. The only problem was that the trail held onto the ice more often than the woods around it because it had been packed.
Seasonal view on South Mountain, Emmaus PA
We headed down hill and soon skirted the base of the incline. There was another huge trench to the left, possibly another quarried area, and another cistern type thing with a metal cap on it. We continued along, and this section of the Alpine Street Trail, which made a loop, had a lot of little puncheons on it. As we headed back to close in the loop where we started, we crossed over a longer board walk over a wet area.
Boardwalk on the orange trail, South Mountain Preserve PA
When we reached the end of Alpine Street again, we turned left on the unblazed South Mountain Gateway Trail. This skirted the backs of houses. I couldn't figure out quite where I was because the data service on my phone had stopped working. I just followed the trail as best I could and we emerged on Weiders Lane. The trail turned right briefly and then went onto a huge long board walk.
Huge boardwalk at Weiders Lane, South Mountain Gateway Trail
We crossed the board walk and then found that the trail paralleled the railroad tracks heading south. The map said this trail continued along that route to Kline's Lane. I had already hiked this line to the south of this point, with Kyle Zalinsky over a year earlier, and about three years earlier where it becomes the Perkiomen Trail. We turned right onto the tracks and followed them the opposite direction of the trail.
Railroad tracks in Emmaus PA
We followed these tracks north to the junction of a more mail line with double trackage. I forget what line this was originally. We headed north, and I turned off to the left to see if I could find some chocolate milk. First, I went into a grocery store but found only low fat crap milk. It was supposed to be one of those bargain grocers but even the candy bars were more expensive than Rite Aid. I thin walked across the lot to a Turkey Hill store. They didn't have what I was looking for, but they had personal pizzas with all the toppings for $2.99 so I indulged. The tracks crossed over and at grade a few streets, but when we reached the Rt 78 underpass everyone waited up for me.
Beneath the Rt 78 underpass in northern Emmaus PA
Along the way Danny found a "Rent Me" sign and carried it for much of the remainder of the hike.
We crossed a few other roads as well, but the only one at grade level was South 12th Street. As we reached the street, a police officer was driving by. We casually walked across, not visibly hiking the railroad tracks, and he moved on. We hurried onto the active tracks heading north around a curve where we were out of sight.
Walking the tracks north of Emmaus PA
Trout Creek Park from the railroad tracks, Allentown PA vicinity
Abandoned tower along the railroad tracks, Allentown
Danny on the tower
After crossing over a road on a bridge, we came to the railroad bridge over Trout Creek, with Trout Creek Park to the north of us. We took a break here for a bit, and Danny went over to a large tower along the tracks and tried to climb up it. There was a reasonably good ladder going to the top, and he got a little over half way up before it started to sway uncomfortably enough to make him stop.
Looking up the abandoned tower
Abandoned tower, Allentown PA
Danny on the abandoned tower, Allentown PA
Railroad tracks near 8th Street, Allentown PA
Commando Tom realized he was wearing a "Commando Sweater"
Trout Creek railroad bridge
Bridge
Mr. Buckett had scouted some of the stuff in the area the days prior to the hike, and he and I both agreed that we could get off of the tracks for a bit and instead use a parallel parkway trail, in this case the Trout Creek greenway, to continue on. So from here, we descended to the base of the bridge and made our way over to a paved path through the park to the north of us. The path was somewhat washed out, and it was apparent there was once a foot bridge across the creek at this point, but it had been gone for some time.
Trout Creek Railroad bridge
Trout Creek Park
Danny in a tree, Trout Creek Park, Allentown PA
Trout Creek Greenway trail
We made our way along the paved trail, which split in two. We took the right fork which stayed close to the railroad tracks and further away from the roads. It then rejoined the other route and crossed over a section of inlets or outlets next to a pond on the creek. We continued on and crossed a small road before heading to a larger underpass below Rt 145. There were trails on either side of the creek at this point, but the one on the left was far less developed so we chose to stay with that one.
Trout Creek Greenway trail, Rt 145 underpass
I had to run to the top of the Rt 145 bridge at one point to catch up with Joe Millionaire who was meeting us late at this point. I had to cross to the south side of the Rt 145 bridge where I found him walking toward me. He was having car troubles that had not yet been resolved, so might face issues later, but he still joined us.
Trout Creek Greenway, Allentown PA
We walked beneath Rt 145 and joined the rest of the group. From here, we followed the path which was done up with guard rails more suitable for roadways, and then came to a ford site. The water was pretty deep from snow melt off, and we were of course not on bikes, so it would have to be a wet foot crossing. Much of the group opted to go back to the last bridge right before Rt 145 and cross there, then return on the paved trail on the other side, while Danny, Commando Tom, Laura, and myself opted to dash across and get a little wet.
Pathway along Trout Creek, Allentown
Ford crossing of Trout Creek, Allentown PA
Trout Creek greenway, Allentown PA
We made our way along the greenway to the ball fields and park area near the intersection of Harrison Street and 4th Street and waited for the rest of the group to join us. Once we were all together, we walked the short section of street on out to Auburn Street. Here, a train came by along the tracks to our right. There was a huge group of rail fans here waiting for it to go by so they could take pictures. Cupcake showed up here, and parked somewhere nearby, I think on 4th street.
Trout Creek greenway, Allentown PA
Making our way along Trout Creek next to a fenced apartment complex
We made our way along the edge of Trout Creek between the creek itself and a fence blocking an old textile mill or something that had been turned into apartments. On the opposite side a sort of trail took us up hill slightly the the right of way of a spur rail line from the main line. It had a nice old stone arch bridge carrying it over the brook.
Old railroad spur culvert over Trout Creek
We then followed the right of way through a reasonably deep cut to an open area. There was a second cut that I continued through looking for Cupcake, which came out onto the north end of 4th Street. I noticed a "no trespassing" sign facing the direction I had come from, so I hurried back into the woods opposite the cut. Cupcake made his way down hill nearer to the old textile place and followed the rail bed through the cut from the south to join up with us.
Old rail line cut, Allentown PA
Old rail line cut, Allentown PA
Taking a break along the rail line right of way, Allentown PA
We turned from here into the clearing and onto an ATV trail which took us down closer to the Little Lehigh Creek. Trout Creek joined with this just to the right. As we walked we came across an abandoned rail bridge over Little Lehigh Creek, all fenced off, followed by a second one with holes cut right into the fences. We took the opportunity to walk across this one and back.
Abandoned railroad over Little Lehigh Creek
Abandoned railroad over Little Lehigh Creek
Abandoned railroad over Little Lehigh Creek
On the other side, there was a tent set up with a wooden frame work around it. Apparently someone was living out here despite the cold. Danny went over and found a good working fire extinguisher there. When he brought it back across the bridge, Commando Tom tried it out, and sure enough it worked.
We continued on the ATV paths here to another abandoned railroad right of way which led us out to it's former junction with the very active main line again. A train had just gone by, so we felt a bit safer walking it knowing it had just been used, and there'd have to be some time before another train would go by.
Railroad bridge over former Lehigh Valley Railroad main line
We followed the active tracks across a bridge over Basin Street, then over the active former Lehigh Valley Railroad main line. We then passed by a water treatment facility to the left (I think) and then made our way across the Lehigh River on a long deck style girder trestle with a metal walkway on the left side.
Crossing the Lehigh River from Allentown on a RR bridge
Lehigh River railroad crossing, Allentown
We hurried across, and I could see a train moving slowly backwards on the track we were to connect to. I assumed they were backing up in order to get onto the trestle we were on, so we hurried across. As soon as we got on the land side we turned left down an ATV path to a section of the Lehigh Canal Park to regroup.
Lehigh River Trestle
Railroad bridge over the Lehigh Canal, Lehigh Canal Park.
We followed the Lehigh Canal towpath heading north from here through part of the park, and it got somewhat overgrown for a bit. Mr. Buckett turned back and crossed over a road bridge just to the south to follow the road parallel to the other side of the canal. When the rest of us got to another pedestrian crossing of the canal many went over to the road as well. I continued with a few others along the towpath side to the lock at the dam on the Lehigh. We took a long break at the lock site and waved at an engineer taking a train up and back on the parallel former Lehigh Valley Railroad. The last time I was at this site it was miserable, my first hike after the fire and I was feeling sick in the rain. It was good to be in better spirits here.
After the train passed by we crossed the tracks and the road up to Albert Street under the Hamilton Street bridge. It was here that Shelly met up with us to finish the hike. She left her car below on Albert Street and we all climbed up to the street level and headed east for a bit.
Danny on the razer, Dauphin Street Allentown
We stopped at a little store briefly and then made our way to Dauphin Street. Recently, it seemed as though access to Dauphin Street to the north was cut off to traffic. We walked over a berm and into a construction site next to the new terminus of Dauphin Street. There were a lot of pipe conduits and such laying around, and posed for Shelly's group picture in them. Joe Millionaire found one of those cool little razer scooters in one, and Danny rode it or carried it for the next few miles!
We next made our way onto the former railroad right of way, I think once a branch of the Lehigh and New England lines, through a recently cleared area. There was an abandoned house on the left as we went by.
Danny on the razer, Dauphin Street Allentown
The railroad right of way went onto a large fill ahead with a creek passing beneath it below. This fill looked really weird because it was totally cleared of trees. Jason Kumpas reminded me that it looked similar to the WB&E grade we had recently hiked up in Pittston PA. He was right, they might have been preparing to remove the fill altogether.
LNE railroad fill, Allentown PA
We soon approached a bridge site where it appeared to have recently been removed. Abutments were still in place but it was a mess. We had to climb down the muddy hill and back up the other side in order to continue on the right of way.
Approaching a former LNE bridge site parallel with Dauphin Street
Former railroad bridge site, LNE line
Former railroad bridge site, LNE line
Phantom Bridge site
We continued walking along the right of way, and to the east could see the giant screen of an abandoned drive in movie theater. We were now approaching a road overpass in a cut that was now also totally clear of trees. I couldn't quite place where we were at the time, but soon realized though it was now totally unfamiliar.
Union Blvd was where my brother Tea Biscuit, Jason Itell, Guillermo, and I climbed down during a hike many years before to find a group of homeless people hidden living in the wooded railroad abandonment. This area was now completely clear, and looked totally different.
Phantom bridge site
Abandoned drive in theater to the east of the railroad bed
Union Blvd underpass, now cleared
After the bride underpass, the right of way was full of ice. I was silly and thought it would still be thick enough for me to walk on, and I fell through to over knee deep. I finished the hike with cold feet. Somehow, others in the group were able to walk on the ice after me without falling through, a sign to me that I need to lose weight.
Industry near Coca Cola Statium
We continued along the rail bed which somehow took us into some sort of industrial area. I could sort of see where the tracks would have gone, but we couldn't get through at all. We ended up having to turn back and head down hill toward Lloyd Street. There was a guy filling or unloading something from a big truck, and Shelly and a couple others stopped to talk to him about something, or maybe he stopped them, I'm not sure. By that time Danny and I were in front heading down through weeds to the intersection with Lloyd Street, which we followed up hill slightly to the right. This actually might have been part of American Parkway; Lloyd Street, once a through route, was cut off to a cul de sac at some point.
Talking to a worker near Coca Cola Stadium
We followed the road up hill, not certain of where the railroad would have gone, much like my last time here. Someone spotted a level grade to the right, north of the road, and regardless of whether it was the railraod, it looked like a good walking route. We made our way down hill onto it.
Walking some sort of level path parallel with American Parkway to the north
Across a ditch from this level grade was yet another level grade, a small berm with a larger rock base. We made our way over to that because I thought it looked like a more likely candidate for a railroad bed. As it turned out, it may very well have been a grade for rails at one time, but the main railroad bed of the LNE we were looking for was south of American Parkway next to Coca Cola Stadium. It joined American Parkway a bit further to the east, but we would turn away from that road before reaching that point.
Pathway parallel with American Parkway near Coca Cola Stadium
We came out onto a parking lot, and then crossed over the next street at an angle to the left, heading northeast. This took us across a weedy field followed by a crop fields, then to part of Lloyd Street. We crossed it directly.
Crossing a field near Lloyd Street
Cedar Hill Memorial Park Cemetery
On the other side we entered Cedar Hill Memorial Park Cemetery. We walked through this large cemetery to the northeast. Along the way we read some interesting tomb stones. This particular cemetery had many veterans buried in it, but unfortunately the flags on the graves in many cases had been snapped over due to the heavy winds we'd had in the previous week.
Interesting tomb stone in Cedar Hill Memorial Park Cemetery. Private Dickmaster?
Cedar Hill Memorial Park Cemetery
We exited the cemetery onto Steelstone Road and turned right. I took over the use of the razor scooter here for a bit. We turned right and headed out to Airport Road and crossed to parking lots on the opposite side. We used these to head north along Airport to Catasaqua Road where we had met in the morning. Ron took over use of the razor for the last stretch.
Closing in on the end point along Catasaqua Road, Bethlehem
Mr. Buckett's house was only a few blocks from here, and we all went there for Buckettfest. Mr. Buckett prepared for us some italian food and allowed us to clean up for the party.
I had already drank two four locos and had quite a lot of blueberry vodka, which was a poor idea because I was totally out of it far too early in the night.
A Playa at Buckettfest 4
I ended up crashing in Mr. Buckett's spare bedroom for a few hours I'm told (someone said six, but that's impossible because it was just before 10 when I was out, and then I was awake by 1:30).
Both of my sets of keys were taken from me for several hours until I sobered up and had a lot of sandwiches. Still I felt pretty miserable.
Mirror shot at Buckettfest 4
I really had far too much to drink, otherwise I would have had a lot more fun, but at least the hike was very good, and exceeded my expectations in that regard.
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