Hike #578; Bethlehem/Hellertown/South Mountain/Musikfest

 Hike #578; Bethlehem/Hellertown/South Mountain/Musikfest!

8/13/11 Bethlehem/Hellertown/South Mountain Loop with Jason Kumpas, Amanda Murphy, Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, "Commando Tom" Petrucci, Laura Allen Cunningham, Corrin Dylnicki, Eric Pace

The group on the South Bethlehem Greenway, a rail trail

My next hike would once again be the annual "March on Musikfest" which had been a tradition since 2005. It was a trip to think that a year prior I was barely able to breath doing the March on Musikfest. This year I was feeling pretty good.

Martin Tower, beginning the annual Marrch On Musikfest

Thought this picture kind of sucked because we were so far back, but now I see the reflection of Martin Tower makes it kind of cool

Heading down the slope near Martin Tower

Along the Monocacy Creek Greenway

Willow laden path along Monocacy Creek Greenway

Undecked old bridgeg on Monocacy Creek Greenway

Undecked old bridgeg on Monocacy Creek Greenway

Moravian College

I was a bit concerned when I first started out because no one was in the parking lot at all. I was soon relieved when I recieved a text from Jason Kumpas that he was on his way. In the past, the Musikfest hikes had always drawn large crowds. It seems I always get a little paranoid when no one is waiting upon my arrival, but so far I haven't posted a hike no one has shown up for since early 2004. Still going strong.

After waiting a bit, Jason, Amanda, Commando Tom, Laura, Mr. Buckett, and Eric were all with me and ready to go. We dilly dallied a bit, but then began our walk right from the meeting point, Martin Tower in Bethlehem.

I had used this route before. We followed along the grass below the tower, past some vacant buildings and down the steep slope to the road out to Monocacy Creek. We then got on the Monocacy Creek Greenway and headed down stream.

We walked through the nice little old farm area under the willows and along the creek into the woods. We crossed over the former Lehigh and New England Railroad, and then continued on to where another old rail bridge used to cross over a tributary to the Monocacy Creek, but it had since been removed. The pedestrian bridge was also in the process of renovation because we had to walk across on the steel girders.

We then made our way onto the nice walkway high above the creek and out to the street in Bethlehem. We crossed and got on the tracks on the opposite side of the creek and walked south into Musikfest. The only people we passed on the trail were two older women picking plants.

When we got under the big concrete arch bridge in Bethlehem I got Mr. Buckett to do some jumping jacks with me to be silly.

Musikfest was only just opening up at this time, so there was nothing really going on as we walked through.

This time, I opted to bring the group through the old Moravian College campus. We passed by beautiful old stone buildings and then made our way to the Fahy Bridge which we used to cross over the Lehigh.

View from the Fahy Bridge over the Lehigh

Once on the other side of the Lehigh, we descended to pass under a nicely painted underpass which led us onto the streets of South Bethlehem. This year was the first year that a part of Musikfest was moved to South Bethlehem. I don't think it ended up being much of a success. The main stage with the pay acts was now to take place at the Sands Casino, which is the old Bethlehem Steel plant, and they referred to it as Steel Stacks.

Along South Bethlehem Greenway

Along South Bethlehem Greenway

Mr. Buckett along South Bethlehem Greeenway

Abandoned rail line in South Bethlehem

Inside abandoned building

An old lamp post where steps used to go down to Saucon Creek from Reading Railroad, Hellertown

Steps descending to Saucon Creek from former Reading Railroad near Hellertown

We soon turned onto the South Bethlehem Greenway, the abandoned railroad right of way I had followed on many past hikes, which was now mostly developed into a trail. it was paved with signs and markings. Quite a different sight to see indeed.

We didn't stay on it for long, instead opting to head a few blocks north and visit a liquor store up hill. We found better: a pizza place that had just opened and had liquor for sale. I bought a couple of Four Locos and we were off. The pizza was rather good as well.

We made our way back down a couple blocks to the rail trail and headed east. Along the way we made one more side trip because a family was trying to have their yard sale and capitalize on the Musikfest crowd. We didn't find really anything good and continued on.

We followed the rail trail through town, and Eric and Mr. Buckett had previous obligations and had to turn back by the time we got to the near end of the greenway. The rest of us continued on. We had clear views of the steel stacks, and they had built a new skate park on top of the former rail bed since the last time I was at this point a couple years prior. We walked around the outside of it and regained the unimproved rail bed headed under a bridge and out to the rail yards. Along the way we went into a small abandoned building on the left I'd gone into years before.

We soon reached the rail yard where the former Philadelphia and Reading railroad line continued south through Hellertown and beyond. It was still clear enough to walk, but much of it had grown over through the former yard since my previous visit. There were two ATV tracks along the right of way, one above the one we were walking to the left. I climbed to that one and we turned back when I realized we went too far. We looked for a way down from the rail bed on the west side, but it was steep and overgrown. On the east side was a washed out path.

The path was the former route of a stair case which would have descended to the Saucon Creek. We could see the concrete supports for it in the ground, and when we reached the bottom there was some of the staircase still in place.

Ruins near Saucon Creek and Hellertown

Where we came out was on Millside Drive below the Reading Railroad trestle along the Saucon Creek. There was a nice pool in the creek, perfect for taking a nice dip. We of course went in, and the water was freezing cold. It was certainly not what I expected of a creek that flows through a relatively open area.

Saucon Creek trestle for Reading Railroad, hellertown

Saucon Creek

Saucon Creek trestle in northern Hellertown

We had a nice relaxing time laying in the stream. While we waited, Tom and Laura had to leave for a bit because her daughter had called saying she was trapped sick in a Dunkin Donuts. They hurried off while Jason, Amanda, and I enjoyed the stream for a bit longer.

When we moved on, we followed Millside and soon turned right to cross the Saucon Creek on a road bridge. We then turned left and walked through a wide grassy parkway along the creek heading down stream. We continued until we came to a picturesque suspension foot bridge over the creek.

Saucon Creek suspension bridge

Directly opposite was a neat set of steps that headed up the slope. We opted to check this out. It led up hill very steeply and then became a trail which crossed a power line, follwing it slightly to the right and then left. It emerged at the end of a cul de sac adjacent to the Slovak Cemetery. I figured we could use this for a future hike most definitely.

Steps up hill from Saucon Parkway

We made our way back down hill to the suspension bridge where Corrin joined up with us. It worked out perfectly that she met us exactly where I had planned she would after telling me she wanted to meet late. Amazing.

Saucon Creek foot bridge

Saucon Creek

Awesome tree in Saucon Park

Saucon Park

In Saucon Park

In Saucon Park

In Saucon Park

In Saucon Park

In Saucon Park

In Saucon Park

In Saucon Park

Making our way to South Mountain from Saucon Parkway

We continued across the nice little foot bridge and into another leg of the Saucon Park. We continued along the edge of the creek and passed by pavilions and such. There were tons of people having picnics and such everywhere. I couldn't believe how crowded the park was. Still, we managed to follow the creek. We soon came to some sort of a raceway which might have serviced a mill, or maybe was like an aesthetic to some sweeping estate. I'm not sure as of now.

We continued along the park until this raceway or whatever it was sort of ended. We then took a break along an access road and looked at areal images to figure out where to go next.

Once we figured it out, we headed slightly up hill and across a ball field, then out to an apartment complex or something that was still under construction.

We then crossed Williams Street and entered some woods next to a utility right of way. As we entered the woods there was an old sort of spring house, or simply stone piled around the spring coming from South Mountain.

Spring heading up South Mountain

We found a trail that turned away from the power line we had found; I was originally planning to hike the power line to another power line, but this trail seemed to go the same place without going so far out of the way, and without being in the sun, so we opted to take it.

On South Mountain

There seemed to be quite a bit of use of these trails by the mountain bikers, probably from Lehigh University. We headed steeply up hill and then continued along a series of trails. Although they were marked rather sloppily with spray paint, they did go out of their way to even make turn blazes.

We continued along, looking occasionally at the GPS on our phones to determine which route would take us to Iococca Hall on the mountain. I was hoping to get in the top of it to see the view of Bethlehem.

Swing things on South Mountain

Swing things on South Mountain

One of the trails which took us to near Iococca led through a sort of ropes course type of swing set up, like a balance activity. We took a nice break here and tried to cross all of the swings. Amanda noticed that she had lost a pair of sunglasses she had had for years, and she and Jason went back for a bit looking for them, but could not find them. Even later I guess they went back looking for them but found nothing.

Taking a break on South Mountain

We made our way from here along a pathway which paralleled the buildings we were close to, and then got on the roadway which took us up hill just a bit more to the Iococca Hall. Unfortunately, the hall was closed yet again and we couldn't get up to see the view. We laughed about the fact that the piece of artwork, a giant globe type thing was still broken from when Kyle Zalinsky tried to climb it two years prior. Tom commented that he hoped they'd never fix it.

Reflections

Disappointed that we could not get inside, we had to take in only the meager view from the front of the building. We then made our way walking down the road, Mountain Drive, to the next intersection. I think we followed a parallel path for a little bit to get off of the road.

We hung a left at the next intersection and soon reached the northern end of a driveway that led to the Mystic Garden.

New bridge near Mystic Garden

As we neared the garden, there was a new pedestrian bridge built on a new path just off of the entrance way.

Mystic Garden entrance

Mystic Garden

Mystic Garden

Mystic Garden

Mystic Garden

Mystic Garden

Mystic Garden

We walked up the hill to the Mystic Garden. it was still pretty badly overgrown like it was on previous visits, but it seemed like new art had been added since then too. Also, some pieces I think had been taken down, while others it seemed might have been repaired because they looked more fresh and colorful. There was also some vulgar haikus.

It's always an interesting experience going through this garden area. We continued on from here through the north end of the garden. I had Tom lead the way because he knew it. It took us to another part of Mountain Drive, and actually an abandoned road that was parallel to it. We followed the road a short distance and it joined the main route of the road. Along the way Laura and I got Stinging Nettle. No fun.

We followed the road for a bit, and then overshot where another access road went in to access the electric illuminated star that shines over Bethlehem PA. We backtracked to this point, and when no cars were coming we ran onto the road and began heading slightly up hill.

Star of Bethlehem

View from the star

Star of Bethlehem

View from the star

Before long we were at the Star of Bethlehem. It was pretty big. I'd seen it since I was little and my dad lived in Bethlehem. We would see it on the mountain whenever we visited.

The view from the site was outstanding. Tom commented that it was better than the hall we couldn't get into. We had a very clear view of most of Bethlehem with the Martin Tower in the center. It really gave us the perspective of how far we had come. In fact, we'd walked around by way of Hellertown, so it was even further.

View of Bethlehem PA from the star

When we'd taken in the view, we continued on by bushwhacking down hill to the left of the star, heading west. This route took us out on an old woods road. When we reached it, I sort of recognized it as one we'd followed in the past, that came out at a strange oblong shaped reservoir that sat above ground. It was neat to think we were that close to the star before.

We continued left on the road, which took us out on the same road we'd left, only further down. We turned right and followed it out to Rt 378 and headed down hill. We were able to get off of the main road for a bit by following a parallel side road.

WHAT???

We passed by a strip bar with a free beer sign, and then turned left I think onto Frederick Street. This street went insanely steeply down hill with a view into Allentown area  from it.

Frederick Street view

Frederick Street I think

I believe we made a left on Moravia and followed that road for a bit to an elementary school. We cut across that property because it had a stair case, and then descended to church street and went left again.

I think we turned right on Lechauwecki Ave and soon reached Broadway. We turned right and made a pit stop at the Wawa food store. I went in and I think I had a buffalo chicken wrap or something. I needed it pretty badly!

After the nice break, we headed up the nearby Dodson Street past some recreational fields. Near the top of the recreation fields was a series of pipe conduits just sitting alongside the road. We figured this was another good place for a break, so we stopped off. I layed down in one which was quite comfortable. We were goofing off a bit and basically just relaxing. A police officer came by, and didn't ask what we were doing, but looked at us cautiously. We also stopped into the park and apparently there was a disgusting dead deer left in a dumpster which for some reason was the topic of much discussion.

South Bethlehem area

We continued up the road, and soon made a left hand turn on Jeter Ave. We followed this a block and then reached Public Road where we turned left. We only went a short distance and then turned right on Cardinal Drive, which within another block became Constitution Road. There were a few houses on this road first, but then they tapered off to nothing at all.

I don't even know what to caption this...

We made our way down the road as it became more secluded. I knew there was a piece of public land along this route, but I knew nothing about it. My google map on my phone showed it as the "Lehigh Uplands Preserve". I was surprised to find that we got to a trail crossing complete with a kiosk and a map denoting this the "Walking Purchase Preserve". I took a picture of the map to use so we could navigate through. It was better than I'd expected because the trail system would take us right on through to Brighton Street in South Bethlehem according to the map.

Walking Purchase Preserve map

The trail entered the woods and weaved around quite a lot, as mountain biking trails tend to do. I had intended to stay with the height of the land, but somehow we ended up on the lower route which paralleled a power line much of the time just to the north, and at a lower elevation. it was fine with me, as long as we got to the same destination.

The trail seemed to go on for a long time. During the course of our walking, a guy came barreling toward us at an insane speed for such a rough and narrow trail. He hollered that he had no brakes and we hurried to the side. We all agreed that he was being kind of a jerk about it. While we were on the trail, the same guy passed by at least one more time, possibly twice.

Eventually, we came to the side trail which took us out to Brighton Street, next to a medical building of some kind with some converted former industries apparently nearby.

It started to rain pretty bad, so we opted to sit it out by going underneath the awning of the building. We spent a good while here.

Parking garage in South Bethlehem

After our long wait, we made our way to a parking garage and walked on through. We exited on the south side, and a police officer went by us. I think someone said they thought it was the same one we'd seen earlier. I'm not sure. I think we might have seen him again as well.

We continued on and soon reached the Hill to Hill Bridge. From here the rest of the trip was wandering around Musikfest and checking out the sights and sounds.

Trestle over the Lehigh near the Hill to Hill Bridge

We crossed over the Lehigh and walked around where the food was for a bit. Some of Laura's friends gave us some really great tasting potato dumpling things. We then went over to listen to a band called Freaks on Stilts or something.We were rejoined by Mr. Buckett and Eric as I recall around this time, and joined by Amanda Rosenblatt as well. I also saw my friend Ron Lozowski and chatted with him for some time. It was good to see him again after a long while.

After Ron moved on, we settled into some seats and chatted with people around the tents.

All of a sudden, the music stopped, and a voice came over the intercom telling us to evacuate. They went on to say it was not a joke and that the creek was rising. I remembered noticing earlier that the grass under my feet seemed to be swelling with water, but not flooding yet.

Indeed, the Monocacy Creek was coming over it's banks. We were ordered to move away from the creek area in an orderly fashion. As we walked over the foot bridge, we could see the water had risen to the capacity of the stone walls that confined it to it's own flume.

We walked with Mr. Buckett to his vehicle and got a ride with him. By the time we went back over the creek on the bridge, the water was covering where we had been sitting.

Mr. Buckett drove Corrin back to her car first, and then took me to his house where I passed out in my car for a good while, which I suppose might have been a good thing. By the time I got to my car at Martin Tower I was feeling much better and ready to get home.As always though, the Musikfest hike was a night to be remembered!