HIke #579; Phillipsburg/Easton Loop

 Hike #579; Phillipsburg/Easton Area Loop

8/16/11 Phillipsburg/Easton Area Loop with "Commando Tom" Petrucci, Corrin Dylnicki, Chris "Colonel" Nani, and Chris "Cupcake" Kroschinski

Giant pipe in Phillipsburg

My next hike would be yet another night hike, beginning in the late afternoon and not finishing till the wee hours of the morning! This would be one of the best night hikes I'd done to date. I really had a great time with this one.

We started off in Union Square in Phillipsburg, and shuttled Commando Tom's car up to Hillcrest Mall off of Rt 22. Cupcake didn't join in till a bit later.

We started walking out of the main parking area, through the hall section behind Hillcrest Mall and past Nicolosi's Pizza where Tom stopped for a slice.

View south from Marble Mountain where the high school was supposed to go

Open area on Marble Mountain

Directly behind Hillcrest there was a path leading up hill and into a sort of ball field. We took this route, and then turned right as we neared the hospital to another vacant area on what appeared to be a wide mowed path. We ended up on Stelko Ave, which had a sidewalk along it. We followed it to Fairview Ave and went right behind a building and past a parking lot, then through a fence into the recreation fields area. We followed the access road beyond the gate and up hill onto Marble Mountain. This was an area where supposedly a new high school was to be built, but never came to be. The road I had walked in the past was now getting pretty overgrown, but still had a nice view to the south from the near crest.

We continued and came to another gate. Walkways along the edge of the road were getting pretty overgrown. We all switched over to the main road and continued up hill. When the road seemed to end we followed the right side of the clearing over the top of the mountain and were soon afforded views of Blue Mountain and Northampton County across the Delaware, through the Delaware itself was obscured from view. The big rock that was once here was now gone.

View from Marble Mountain

After taking in the view, and drinking good portions of some sort of Loco XXX, we continued toward the woods. The field took some real bushwhacking to get through. It was a mess. Once we reached the other end where I in the past had accessed the county's Marble Mountain preserve, there was a chain link fence that had been repaired by having more links attached to it. It was easy to just open the links and go over without damaging anything really.

We had to bushwhack through the woods a bit, but it wasn't terrible. We headed up one steep spot and came to one of the paths on Marble Mountain, exactly where I had wanted to come out, adjacent to the pit iron mine. We turned left from here. My intention was to then descend to the Fulmer Mine below, but I missed the turn. It got obscure since my last visit.

We instead followed these paths in a circuitous route around the property. It was clear more ATVs had been using the area. The path became more vague, but still used by ATVs, and we came across a tent with a rather elaborate hanging system near it, and a fire pit. We quieted down to go by, and continued back to where I knew the mine to be. We made a couple of turns trying to figure out where we were, and made one more wrong turn. I figured we'd follow the path in the wrong direction because the slope below us to the left was dropping to the Delaware, and so we would absolutely have to come to the mine somehow since the main path from the river followed such a similar topography.

I was right, and we were soon at the entrance to the Fulmer Mine. We went on inside and sat down for quite some time and chatted. We had to kill some time anyway since Cupcake was going to meet up with us.

Fulmer Mine on Marble Mountain

After our break, we headed down along the former road, past the masonry ruins of the once thriving iron ore industry, with some nice somewhat obscured views down onto the Delaware River and Rt 611 in PA. The road took us down to River Road, which we crossed and then entered the gate to the old Phillipsburg Pump House. This area is used to store historic transportation related artifacts including some awesome old Mac trucks.

Antique Mack Truck

During past visits, most of the stuff was all out in the open, but this time it was mostly under tarps and such, which was nice to see because it was secured and protected from vandals.

Abandoned

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

We stopped and had a look at the old Mac trucks, complete with the old bulldog emblems on the sides, which was quite cool. Instead of being out in the open, they were now in some sort of a tent type canopy where they were barely visible. We went in and had a look at them briefly before moving on.

The entire area was full of piled stuff with tarps over them. While I wanted to show my friends how incredible the place was, I was glad to see it all secured.

We continued through the property and headed out toward the former Bel Del Railroad when we noticed the nice old stone house beyond the Pump House appeared to be completely abandoned. The last time I was through I recall it still being inhabited. It looked as though no one was living in it now. It was an historic stone house with a frame additon added to it. To the right a window was wide open, so we opted to have a look.

The building was badly damaged inside. Water had been getting in, and the hard wood floors were heaving. The door facing the south side of the building had been forced open, although there had been a pad lock on it. We checked out every room in the place. It looked as though it had been pertissioned off as a two family dwelling, because the stairs to the second floor did not go to both sides of the house. I went all the way to the attic in the one side, and the window was wide open with a lot of damaged boxes of stuff. Most of the rest of the house was completely empty. I did find a wrapped VHS tape that probably won't work. Haven't tried.

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house attic

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Abandoned house

Outside the abandoned house

Outside the abandoned house

Abandoned house

Only Corrin and I checked out the upstairs of the far side while the others went off to see this strange deer statue, probably used for target practice out in the yard. It was not much of a yard by now, more of a hay field. The attic window was wide open for me to peer out.

We left the building the same way we came in, and I closed the busted door behind me. The next day I reported that I'd found the house in poor condition with the bolts busted off to Warren County in case they had any invested interests in the place.

We continued through the former yard and across to the railroad tracks and headed back to the north. We had to make our way to where a path would lead us down to the river side.

There was an ATV coming down the tracks from in front of us, which was a bit unnerving, but he turned away and we were able to make our way to the ATV path that went down to the Delaware. The first good opportunity we had we went swimming. That is all of us but Corrin, because she was afraid she'd get swept away. It was quite refreshing being in the water after the sweaty fight through weeds and such earlier.

We continued south from here and passed by the outlet I assume of the pump house, then eventually reached the giant drainage pipe that makes it's way a long distance out to the north main street, Phillipsburg. Once everyone was together, we headed on through the pipe. Always an interesting time.

On the opposite side, I got in touch with Cupcake. As I exited the culvert where it went from being round to oblong, I saw him with his "NJ SKA" license plate go by. I told him to park his car and run back, we'd wait for him just barely into the culvert.

We hung out and laughed for a bit until Cupcake was able to join us, and then we retraced our steps through the culvert. On the other side we continued along the Delaware as well as on the former Bel Del tracks heading south to Rt 22.

Delaware River and Getters Island from Rt 22 bridge

Rt 22/Bushkill Street Bridge

when we approached, we turned left off the tracks and climbed steeply up to the walkway on the westbound side of Rt 22. We crossed the bridge and admired the view into the gap to the north. I told everyone the story of the deaths regarding the first steam boat on the Delaware, and how Getter's Island got it's name from the man who was hanged there over a century ago.

We then continued across the bridge and turned right along Rt 611, and then turned left on Bushkill Street. We passed a guy who commented back and forth with me about how great a day it was. We also passed quite a humorous sign saying something about a Love Motel for Insects.

Ok what? lol "Love Motel for Insects"? What?

We continued on along Bushkill Street and soon reached the steps that ascended College Hill to Lafayette College. There was a road block out in the road next to the rest of the westbound Bushkill Street. I decided when no cars were coming to move the road block out into the middle of the road and then run up the college hill steps!

Ascending College Hill in Easton

We continued up and made a pit stop at the statue overlooking the Easton Circlie beyond.

Once rested up, we continued up a couple more flights of steps and turned left through an underpass beneath one of the Lafayette College campus buildings. There was really hardly anyone at the campus at all. Tom and I were really loopy by now and laughing quite a lot. I started getting worried about campus security a bit and hushed up. Still, the power of the Four Loco governed us all too well. When we came upon a six or eight foot table set in front of one of the buildings, Tom sat down at the seat and started shouting out dramatically "TEEEEAAAAACH MEEEEEE!!!!!! I'M HERE TO LEEEAAARRRRNNNN!!!!". It was hilarious, but certainly must have gotten someone's attention!

Commando Tom yells out "TEACH ME!!! I WANT TO LEEEEAAAARRRRNNNN!!!!" at Lafayette College.

We made our way along the top of the hill and soon came to the Fisher Campus.

having a sit down

Having a sit down at Lafayette College's Fisher Campus

There were a few people in front of us walking around, so I tried to stay a little more calm and told them how cool I thought the ampitheatre within the Fisher Campus was. They seemed to have a kid with them who was a special needs student, so they were fortunately to preoccupied to worry about us being silly.

We continued in front of the Fisher Campus and soon came to the dumpsters on the western end. In front of them were two large chairs, so we had a little sit down for a few moments.

We soon made our way along the access road down College Hill a little but, and then cut away to the right which took us directly down beneath the Rt 22 overpass for both Bushkill Creek and Bushkill Drive. We descended from the underside of the bridge and crossed Bushkill Dirve to gain the former Lehigh Valley Railroad right of way parallel with the road. This section had been paved over as a trail since the last time I was at this spot!

Former Lehigh Valley Railroad terminal site along Bushkill Drive

We continued heading up stream along the Bushkill Creek when a police officer came by and turned left following the now paved trail. It seems the trail did not continue on the rail bed, but rather went left across Bushkill Creek and then followed the old road route on the other side around the creek. I figured we'd stay away from him and continue on the rail bed ahead.

Abandoned Lehigh Valley Railroad along Bushkill Creek, Easton

The rail bed ahead was somewhat clear, but unimproved. We were able to follow it until there was too much industry to our left to walk right on it. We were able to walk the road with really no problem. As we continued up the road we passed by a gym, which was just closing and people were leaving. Tom was ready to go in and as he headed over and they told him it was closed, he collapsed to the ground screaming "no", which was again hilarious. One of the guys leaving the gym said to him that he's definitely doing something right!

Tom commented as he got up that Four Loco really does make him crazy! I concur, and we love it!

We soon passed by the scrap sculptures that were done by this guy Kieffer with the help of our friend Randy Melick. When we passed the giant metal abstract Atlas I had climbed in the past, Tom climbed onto it.

Atlas scrap sculpture

Just ahead of here we were able to turn left onto the former railroad bed over a deck girder trestle. Although the bridge was only ties remaining, we crossed it rather easily. On the opposite side, the rail bed was now part of the paved bike path. The path joined the rail bed from the south, and apparently we missed a portion of it from before. I had no idea that the trail was complete through there off of the rail bed. I'll have to go back to check it out.

We continued along, and then emerged off the trail onto North 13th Street. We could not see the continuation of the path, so we turned right onto 13th. We passed a few cop cars that had people pulled over but they didn't stop us. It was by now completely dark out so I figured we'd be questioned, but we were not.

We turned left onto Bushkill Drive from here and continued upstream along the Bushkill Creek until we got to an apartment complex that appeared to have been constructed in old industry. The building had a bridge across the creek to it, so we used it and followed along the edge of it heading north, which soon regained the railroad bed, unimproved with no pavement or anything at this point.

We continued north until we got to where we'd left off on another recent night hike, where the trail officially turns left and goes up hill to North Hackett Park. We followed this again in the dark, then across the frisbee golf course and then over Hackett Ave. After crossing we descended to the foot bridge over Rt 22 and hung out there for a little bit. I can't remember if I mooned the traffic or not.

We continued from here down hill slightly and then the trail paralleled Wood Avenue briefly before crossing it. It then ascended to the former Lehigh Valley Railroad, which we followed out to Northampton Street. Here, we turned right very briefly to make a pit stop at Taco Bell.We were afraid we would miss the lobby hours like we did the previous time when I tried to walk through the drive through and they wouldn't let me. One of the doors had been closed, but the west side door was not, so we went in and many of us feasted on wonderful Taco Bell treats. I had a few chicken soft tacos and some of the Nacho Supreme things which were on sale for 99 cents for the month of August. Tom commented that it was probably the most Taco Bell he'd ever had at one sitting!

Once we were all satisfied, we got back on the rail trail and began  heading on now to the south sort of. Where the Wallgreens was built over the rail bed, the trail went around it to the right. We then crossed over William Penn Highway and continued on the trail south. In this section, we turned right and began following the paved rail trail on the former Central Railroad of NJ connector line. We followed it on through neighborhoods which were pretty well lit and didn't see another soul. We then continued on as neighborhoods gave way to fields and then finally woods on a high shelf. The rail right of way turned from going more west to more south, and then back east again on a sweeping route. I knew we'd already done over fifteen miles by how I felt, but I didn't want the night to end, and no one was complaining about how much time we had left. It was just that much fun and I think everyone was feeling pretty good.

Eventually, the rail bed joined up with the former CNJ main line which was also a trail for a distance near the Rt 33 underpass. Once we got out to Riverview Park, the trail section ended. We went through the parking area and there was a couple there doing some hanky panky. A car soon came by, and someone said it was a cop, so we ran off into the weeds and hid. When he was gone we began walking the road, Lehigh Drive, under the Glendon Bridge, and then out to the old Glendon Bridge. This bridge, formerly open to traffic, was now open to pedestrians only, which surprised me.

We crossed and then turned left into Hugh Moore Park on their pathway, part of the Delaware and Lehigh Trail. This paved path soon headed up hill and joined the Lehigh Canal towpath. This is what we followed for much of the remainder of the time.

We followed the canal towpath and eventually came to where it spilled back off into the Lehigh River. From here, the canal used slack water of the river with a towpath rather than having it's own trench. We took a break and I went out onto the canal lock. I wasn't thinking when I did a jump flip off of the lock into the canal, because I neglected to take my phone out of my pocket. To my surprise, it was still working when I got back out, and doing quite well. I didn't want to chance it, so I took the battery right out immediately. I thought for sure it would be done because I'd lost the back to it and the battery and connectors were directly exposed to the water, but such was not the case.

We continued on along the towpath on the lovely section beneath the CNJ trestle in Easton, and under Rt 611. We continued until we came to a connector path up to 611 and turned onto it. We then walked along that road out and along the Lehigh to the Delaware, crossing the bridge over the Lehigh first. It was a great way to end the night, crossing the illuminated free bridge of Northampton Street to Union Square, Phillipsburg.

At Union Square, we parted ways and went back to all of our cars. I think by this time I was exausted. It was probably getting close to 3 am. I had to be up for work first thing in the morning, and at that time all I could think of was how lucky I am to have such great friends who are up for so much craziness, and that I'm thankful we all have the stamina enough to do something like this and still be able to function the next day.

In the end we had done 21 and a half miles. Far more than I anticipated doing, but the hike was also far better than I thought it would be. A good route helps, but good people add something really special.Thanks everyone for coming out!