7/19/11 Upper Worthington State Forest with "Commando Tom" Petrucci
Abandoned test bore cave
My next hike would be a repeat of the Lower Worthington loop trip for the most part, which I had done many times in the past. Joining me this time would be only "Commando Tom" Petrucci.
We met at the Dunnfield Creek parking lot and began our walk there. We followed the Appalachian Trail route out and around along Rt 80 past the Kittatinny Point Information Station, which was closed, and continued on to a spot with a pump so I could fill my water bottle up. We then continued on under Rt 80 where construction was going on.
Along NYS&W rail bed, now Karamac Trail
We continued from here on the former route of the New York, Susquehanna, and Western Railroad which was obliterated to the south by Rt 80, but to the north is now Karamac Trail. We continued on the old right of way, which was more overgrown than it had ever been in my experiences, on out to where it used to cross the Delaware on a trestle.
Former NYS&W Delaware trestle, Karamac
From here, the Karamac Trail became a narrow path along the river out to the site of the old Karamac Inn. This site with the steps on down to the Delaware has been a favorite spot of mine for years. We went down to the water and took a dip in the Delaware before continuing on.
Old Karamac Inn site
Old Karamac Inn site
From here, we headed up along the trail away from the water. As we walked, there were two painters standing along the trail with their easels and frames. There was also the ruins of a building on the right side of us, which I had forgotten was even there.
Abandoned structure at Karamac
We continued across River Road (called Old Mine Road even though it's well downstream from the Pahaquarry Mines where the road was supposed to start) to Farview Trail and followed it steeply up hill. I had to push really hard to continue fast, non stop up the ridge, but I managed. Tom managed to keep almost right behind me the entire way. We chatted about how it had been so many years since he was in the park.
When we reached the AT, we followed it northbound for a while, and turned off at an old woods road that went to the left. It connected with the Douglas Trail, also a woods road, just below the AT. We followed Douglas Trail down hill, and then turned right on Rockcores Trail. This was once an historic road route as well. We followed Rockcores Trail a short distance to the bottom of Sunfish Drainage Trail. This unmarked, unofficial trail follows the route of drainage from Sunfish Pond, and the water goes under ground slightly to the point where you can't see it, but can clearly hear it.
Sunfish Drainage Trail
This trail too was insanely steep, but we again handled it pretty well. We soon reached the Appalachian Trail along the pond, and turned left. We followed the AT along the shore until we got to the great rock piles and took a relaxing swim. This was a surreal time to be up there, as the sun was setting. It was beautiful and no one else was around.
Sunfish Pond at dusk
Sunfish Pond at dusk
I swam way out and just floated around for a bit, enjoying the water. We built up quite a sweat coming up the ridge twice, so this was well needed.
Delaware at dark from Rockcores Trail
Climbing into the abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
We continued back onto the AT and headed north. We continued until it hit the Garvey Springs Trail and turned left. We were fortunately able to still see the trail and the blazes at this point, but had we waited another ten minutes we probably would have had a really tough time.
When we reached Rockcores Trail again, we turned right, and followed it through dense forest and an understory of hay ferns.
We soon reached the giant cylindrical test cores that were left in the woods all along the trail route, and continued to descend on the trail until we crossed over a power line. This was almost the end of the trail. We had a little difficulty following the trail on the other side of the power line, but when we found it we descended just a bit more slightly, and then turned off to the left on an old woods road.
This woods road led us to the test bore cave, on what would have been the site of Tocks Island Dam had it ever been constructed. I had been in the cave a few times before, but never all the way to the back. I squeezed myself under the gate and into the cave, and Tom followed soon behind.
I wasn't worried about the bats this time, because now that it was totally dark out I figured they had all left. We didn't see any. We went back through the cave, and took the side trip to the right where the side tunnel branched off. We then returned and continued further into the mountain.
The walls were lined with wires and old lights probably dating back to the sixties. A few places had some bracing work.
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
Abandoned test bore cave
We continued back through the cave, which seemed to just keep going on. It was longer than I 'd really expected. There was water running along the floor, but when we got further in, we passed where it bubbled up out of the floor to the left. I was having trouble getting good pictures through this, but then when we got to beyond the water, the moisture in the air changed a lot and good pictures came of it.
We soon reached the end of the straight ahead cave. To the right, another cave continued off, but after a short distance, that one ended as well. After looking around a bit, we made our way back out of the cave the way we went in, which took mush less time because we weren't as worried about what we'd end up stepping on.
Abandoned test bore cave, climbing in
We crawled back out of the tight entrance to the cave and descended down to the Old Mine Road (River Road). We then turned left. Every time a car went by, we ran and hid in the weeds, or layed down in them because we didn't want to deal with getting in trouble for being in the park after dusk.
We soon came to the Garvey Springs parking lot. We could hear the road of Laurel Falls above us, but didn't bother going over. We headed into the lot, and then turned left on out to the restrooms and shower house. We had again gotten all messy from the cave, and so we took the opportunity to take showers, which was great. There weren't many people camping in the park, so there was no problem. We continued through the camp ground and onto the little road by the river on out past the park headquarters. From there, we continued north on the even more secluded section. We made dumb animal noises as we went, and some of them were answered by some interesting yells, to which we answered, but when we walked into the camp site to see who it was, no more answer.
Giant old tree at Worthington camp ground
cave
Abandoned test bore cave
We continued back through the cave, which seemed to just keep going on. It was longer than I 'd really expected. There was water running along the floor, but when we got further in, we passed where it bubbled up out of the floor to the left. I was having trouble getting good pictures through this, but then when we got to beyond the water, the moisture in the air changed a lot and good pictures came of it.
We soon reached the end of the straight ahead cave. To the right, another cave continued off, but after a short distance, that one ended as well. After looking around a bit, we made our way back out of the cave the way we went in, which took mush less time because we weren't as worried about what we'd end up stepping on.
Abandoned test bore cave, climbing in
We crawled back out of the tight entrance to the cave and descended down to the Old Mine Road (River Road). We then turned left. Every time a car went by, we ran and hid in the weeds, or layed down in them because we didn't want to deal with getting in trouble for being in the park after dusk.
We soon came to the Garvey Springs parking lot. We could hear the road of Laurel Falls above us, but didn't bother going over. We headed into the lot, and then turned left on out to the restrooms and shower house. We had again gotten all messy from the cave, and so we took the opportunity to take showers, which was great. There weren't many people camping in the park, so there was no problem. We continued through the camp ground and onto the little road by the river on out past the park headquarters. From there, we continued north on the even more secluded section. We made dumb animal noises as we went, and some of them were answered by some interesting yells, to which we answered, but when we walked into the camp site to see who it was, no more answer.
Giant old tree at Worthington camp ground
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