Hike #566; Cranberry Lake to Lake Hopatcong
The group along the Lackawanna Cutoff
7/1/11 Cranberry Lake to Lake Hopatcong with Chris "Cupcake" Kroschinski, Jillane Becker, Jamie Becker, and Ben Tharp.
My next hiker would be another impromptu night hike, this time with only my buddy Cupcake showing up from the start. I met him at the Lake Hopatcong Railroad station, and we shuttled north to Cranberry Lake in his "Ska Jeep".
We began our walk by heading from the commuter parking area along Rt 206 north along the Sussex Branch Trail. We stopped first at the convenience store to get some nourishment.
We began following the trail north, which was nice and easy. There was a section of it that had recently been regraded just south fo Whitehall Hill Road. Beyond there heading north it was still pretty badly washed out for a bit. As we made our way onto the fill above the culvert called "The Hole In The Wall", we could see where ATVs had been accessing the trail.
Sussex Branch Trail, Whitehall NJ
We continued from here to the north along the Sussex Branch until we reached the underpass for the Lackawanna Cutoff. We climbed to the top and began following it to the east. I had been watching every day the work as construction had progressed along the rehabilitating of this old rail line, mostly in Byram Township, and saw recently that rails were ready to be laid. Cupcake and I decided to hike the sections one last time before it would be inaccessible to us.
Along Lackawanna Cutoff
Cupcake was impressed by the fill in this section, part of the Pequest Fill which remains to this day the largest railroad fill in the world. We headed across the top and made our way soon to a grade area, and into some deep cuts. We watched orange flagging tape along the rail bed as we went by, and at one point where there was alot of orange tape farther off of the trail where it was at the same grade as a road, we figured this would probably be the location of the new station for Andover NJ Transit was intending to build.
Along Lackawanna Cutoff
We passed old st5ructures as we continued along, knowing that many of them would not survive the reconstruction of this line.
Structure built to hold rocks off of the rail bed near Roseville
Former Lackawanna cutoff near Roseville
We continued along the right of way headed east into the deep cut as we approached Roseville Tunnel. We could feel the cold air as we neared the opening.
Roseville Tunnel
Still, no work had been done on this section to clear the right of way. I knew it was started further on in Byram Township, and even regrading had been done, but I was surprised that nothing else had been.
Roseville Tunnel
Roseville Tunnel
Inside Roseville Tunnel
Roseville Tunnel
We came out the east side of the tunnel and continued along the cutoff, looking the same as ever. There were a few other kids walking the right of way ahead of us, trying to find an easy way down. We could see views of the lakes around the Cutoff as we walked through, but still no clearing had been done for quite a ways.
Ponds on the east side of Roseville Tunnel
View from Lackawanna Cutoff to Lake Lackawanna, Roseville
The right of way finally became clear some distance below Lake Lackawanna. I went and found where the Highlands Trail used to go near a small cut, and some of the blazes where it turned next to the rail bed were still visible.
It was a bit after that where we came to a massive clearing. Even all of the Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus, the terrible invasive tree were cut back away from the right of way.
Lackawanna Cutoff being reconstructed in Byram Twp.
Lackawanna Cutoff, northern end of reconstruction, July 1.
Former Highlands Trail route next to the Lackawanna Cutoff. I can still see the turn blaze. This section was closed off and moved further east.
We walked the newly cleared section, and it appeared to be ready for tracks. There were stakes laid in newly placed ballast rock where the tracks would go. This section seemed to go on forever though, because we could see so far ahead and felt like we were getting nowhere.
Lackawanna Cutoff reconstruction in Byram.
Lackawanna Cutoff reconstruction in Byram
Lackawanna Cutoff reconstruction in Byram
We eventually came to a spot where the grade for the rails ended and there were giant piles ballast or fill on the right of way. It was soon after here we could see where the new Highlands Trail route was coming up from the right. There were also big pieces of concrete laying around, which Cupcake considered phalic.
Cupcake and his phalic cement.
We turned right off of the right of way onto the Highlands Trail, also the Byram bike path which connected Stanhope Sparta Road with Mansfield Drive and the Byram Central School.
Highlands Trail near Byram Schools
It was here that we were joined by Jillane, Jamie, and Ben. I had wanted to get Ben out on a hike for some time. He brought his new dog with him, using some sort of a makeshift leash. Together, we all continued back to the Cutoff and followed it south. Along the way we saw a big black snake with a ring around it's neck.
Snake
We crossed over Brooklyn Stanhope Road, and then headed south along the cutoff further. Cupcake and I stopped at the Musconetcong River bridge and climbed down to take a swim. I had swam here once before while hiking this section with Fred Hafele, but this time someone had constructed a new dock out onto the Musconetcong. I thought it was state land, but apparently it's not. We took a dip in the river, and as we were out there, someone was setting off fire crackers, and approached on an ATV. When we could see the lights from the thing we climbed back up the fill quickly. When we got to the top, we could see the ATV had pulled up and a guy came out and sat on the dock. We hurried off without anyone saying anything to us.
Along Lackawanna Cutoff
Lackawanna Cutoff reconstruction
Lackawanna Cutoff
From this point, the rail line split. The newly cleared area was to the eastbound, while it didn't look like they were going to clear the former westbound track.
We continued on to the old tower near the junction site, and then tried to find a way down and out to the Path Mark store. The first roadway we followed took us down hill and across what I think was the Morris Canal, but it dead ended. We ended up having to turn back and make our way to a path near the Path Mark itself. It took us out behind the store. We walked around the front, and stopped in a liquor store for some drinks. I picked up a terrible new malt beverage that was some sort of generic Four Loco that was terrible.
We moved on from here across to Lakeside Blvd and headed down through weeds onto the former Morris Canal Feeder towpath. We were able to hike this in to Hopatcong State Park without paying the three dollar entrance fee to watch the fire works.
Fireworks at Lake Hopatcong
Fireworks at Lake Hopatcong
We made it in as the fire works were still going on and sat down along the edge of the beach. We watched the fire works, which wasn't the best view, but we could see them. Amanda Rosenblatt joined us here. She was going to try to meet up hiking, but decided to take a nap instead and then couldn't find out how to get to us.
Fireworks at Lake Hopatcong
Fireworks at Hopatcong State Park
After the fire works were over, we walked out of the park and out to Brooklyn Stanhope Road where Amanda had parked her car. We went and got my car down the road at the train station, and Cupcake drove it back to pick everyone up (I was in no shape for driving yet). Jillane, Cupcake, Ben, and I went to Ben's house and spend until the wee hours of the morning swimming in Bear Pond. Another fun night.
Fireworks from Hopatcong SP
Fireworks from Hopatcong SP
Fireworks from Hopatcong SP
Fireworks from Hopatcong SP
Fireworks from Hopatcong SP
Sussex Branch Trail, Whitehall NJ
Along Lackawanna Cutoff
Along Lackawanna Cutoff
Structure built to hold rocks off of the rail bed near Roseville
Former Lackawanna cutoff near Roseville
Roseville Tunnel
Roseville Tunnel
Roseville Tunnel
Inside Roseville Tunnel
Roseville Tunnel
Ponds on the east side of Roseville Tunnel
View from Lackawanna Cutoff to Lake Lackawanna, Roseville
Lackawanna Cutoff being reconstructed in Byram Twp.
Lackawanna Cutoff, northern end of reconstruction, July 1.
Former Highlands Trail route next to the Lackawanna Cutoff. I can still see the turn blaze. This section was closed off and moved further east.
Lackawanna Cutoff reconstruction in Byram.
Lackawanna Cutoff reconstruction in Byram
Lackawanna Cutoff reconstruction in Byram
Cupcake and his phalic cement.
Highlands Trail near Byram Schools
The group along the Lackawanna Cutoff
Snake
Along Lackawanna Cutoff
Lackawanna Cutoff reconstruction
Lackawanna Cutoff
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