Hike #622; Mendham to Bartley

 Hike #622; Menham to Bartley

4/15/12 Patriot's Path; Mendham to Bartley with Carol Creamer, John Bradford Ladutko, David Finton, Susie Duncan, Michele Valerio, David "Captain Soup" Campbell, Craig Nunn, Al MacLennan, Jaque Melo, Jim Schlenker, Jamie Becker, Irina Vinyarskaya, Eric Pace, Andrea Licciardi,

Group shot along Patriot's Path in Randolph Twp.

My next hike would be in part a repeat, but in part new, along the Patriot's Path of Morris County mostly.I had been hiking the Patriot's Path for some time. I was only somewhat aware of it's existence of Patriot's Path for several  years. I had hiked pieces not knowing what it was.Like so many of my past hikes, it begins with my grandfather. We hiked all over NJ, but somehow the Patriot's Path was never a big one to follow. We would go to the Great Swamp in Morris and Somerset, but for some reason it wasn't a priority.My first time on it was at Schooley's Mountain Park. My grandfather sang in a top Barbershop Chorus called the Hunterdon Harmonizers, and even competed at an international competition. Every Summer there would be a picnic with the group, and it was often held at Schooley's Mountain. During the day we would walk the Patriot's Path to the falls on the Electric Brook. I didn't realize it was part of a large system until many years later when my friend Bob "Bode" Bodenstein took me on a driving tour of the Rockaway Valley Railroad, which the trail follows a good distance of.My hike this time would be from close to where the Patriot's Path breaks away from the rail bed on to the northwest, to Bartley on the Columbia Trail.

Dismal Harmony Natural Area at the start

I met my group in Flanders, at the McDonalds, a short distance from our end point. I made this hike a white theme. I told everyone to wear as much white as possible. I'd done similar on past Patriot's Path hikes. Not everyone got the memo, but a good amount of us were dressed up. It was funny that a Monmouth County parks bus arrived while we were waiting, and many of them were wearing white. They appeared to be walking toward us when we were waiting for others to arrive. They were just going to McDonalds.We shuttled cars to the end point, a tight parking area along the Columbia Trail in Bartley, and then headed to Mendham wheere we began our trip at Dismal Harmony Natural Area.

Dismal Harmony Natural Area

Dismal Brook, Dismal Harmony Natural Area along Patriot's Path

Dismal Brook, Dismal Harmony Natural Area

We had hiked this area before, but not recently. There were new developments in the area which I wanted to explore as well. Originally I was going to do a side trip on one of the other trails in the preserve, but I realized the distance would be 17 miles total, so opted to keep only on Patriot's Path.The trail went through woods past the site of former ice house ponds, along a brook. The preserve is supposedly named for the two creeks that flowed through it: The Dismal Brook and the Harmony Brook.The trail hit a woods road, where to the right it was another access trail. We continued to the left, and a yellow blazed trail turned off to the right where we crossed the creek.

Ruins in Dismal Harmony

Ruins in Dismal Harmony

Ruins in Dismal Harmony

Ruins in Dismal Harmony

Ruins in Dismal Harmony. My last time to this cabin, the roof was intact and it was in reasonable shape. So sad.

Collapsed cabin in Dismal Harmony

Old privy in Dismal Harmony

From here, the trail began a steeper climb up the left side of the creek valley. While near the creek, I noticed an interesting stone building ruin just above the trail to the left. I'd never noticed it on past trips, so I went up to have a look. It was really neat, with fire places and much of the masonry still in good shape. It didn't look particularly historic, but was cool nevertheless.At the top of the hillside, the yellow blazed trail returned from the right. We continued on, and another trail, unblazed went left. There was a bench where we waited for others to catch up, then continued along the trail. On a hillside, there was an old cabin on the left. The last time I had been to the site, the cabin still had a roof. It was in bad shape, but not that terrible. This time, the roof had almost completely collapsed, and the logs that held the north wall had rotted and were buckling. The remains of the building would not stand much longer, sadly.We continued along the trail heading north at this point.

Collapsed cabin in Dismal Harmony

Harmony Brook along Patriot's Path in Mendham Twp.

Harmony Brook along Patriot's Path

The trail reached a driveway road with limited parking, and followed it to the left out to Woodland Road, with nice views of the little Harmony Brook passing along and beneath the road. We turned right and the Patriot's Path followed along the edge of the road heading up hill, at the spillway for Clyde Potts Reservoir. I had not been here since night hiking with Jamie and Cupcake over a year prior.

Clyde Potts Reservoir from Patriot's Path

Patriot's Path crossing a power line near Clyde Potts Reservoir

Brook along Patriot's Path near Clyde Potts

Patriot's Path along a power line south of Randolph

Captain Soup along Patriot's Path near Combs Hollow

The trail turned left off of the road just past the north end of Clyde Potts Reservoir and switchbacked up the hillside back and forth across a utility right of way. Of course, a lot of the group took short cuts and followed the right of way, but I managed to stay on it for once.We crossed over a nice little brook and passed through some pretty wetlands and spruce forests.It looked like some of the trail had been re-routed to reach the Randolph Township trails at a nicer spot than at the power line. It turned left when we got to the gravel Randolph trail system. To the right, the wide trail was now blazed blue, unlike previous visits.We continued on the easy path ahead, which remained gravel except for in short sections where it was apparently an erosion problem. Eventually, we met up with Craig, Al, and Jim. This was Jim's first hike out with us in a while, and it was great to see him back on the trail.We continued along, passed the dead end of a road, then continued to Combs Hollow where we crossed the India Brook. We were hoping to pass by Fred Hafele's group who was doing a similar hike in the area, but we never saw him. Pretty soon, we reached and crossed Combs Hollow Road, and the Patriot's Path followed the edge of the street directly across for a bit, on a paved path before turning left into Heisteins Park.

Pond in Heisteins Park

The trail followed along the edge of a pond, then went through the woods and across a creek. I never noticed that the bridge over the creek seemed to be an old masonry one, probably a former old road route.The trail emerged in the active recreation part of Heisteins, and skirted the left side fo the ball fields. There was a little league game going on. We were going to have a lunch break here, but decided to hold off because of the game.The paved path turned right, but the Patriot's Path now continued directly across through narrow strip of trees between a cemetery and houses. When I led the Patriots Path hikes before, this was a long road walk to go around.

Patriot's Path west of Heisteins Park

Skunk Cabbag along Patriot's Path

Strange mounds of dirt lined the edge of Patriot's Path's new section west of Heisteins Park

Creek crossing on Patriot's Path near Ironia

Creek near Ironia

The trail passed through some thick forsythia, then went right through a small piece of some guy's back yard. The home owner himself was out doing yard work, and pushed around a wheel barrow as if pretending not to see us there. He was probably not a trail advocate.The trail continued between homes, though not as closely, then became much more remote in an area with drainage springs and lots of Skunk Cabbage. Jamie said "I like how the cabbage feels against my legs...cold and wet.." which I found hilarious.The area was soon full of giant moss covered mounds. Maybe the area was to be developed at one time many years ago, and these were test holes or something. I have no clue, but it really looked interesting.The trail came out onto Ironia Road and followed it to the right. Carol and John Bradford accidently turned right, remaining on the paved path in Heisteins Park. They went pretty far out of the way. Had they continued on, they would have reached Patriot's Path to close in the 1.2 mile loop around Heisteins. They could have been disastrous!They eventually found the way and got back to us. Carol had a hurt angle, so it was probably tougher.

At the corner of Rt 513 and Ironia Road, there was a general store that was open: our perfect lunch stop!I didn't get anything, but Captain Soup gave me some of his amazing honey turkey.In the store, I got in a conversation with a guy who complained about the trails in Hacklebarney, and how Morris County did so much better with theirs. He was so right; I was not allowed to continue fixing the trails at Hacklebarney, despite terrible blazing and map.

Patriot's Path sign in Ironia entering Black River WMA. Most of thse wooden Patriot's Path signs have been replaced by some sort of red composite.

Patriot's Path in Black River WMA

View from the Chester Branch of the Lackawanna Railroad bed

DL&W Chester Branch, now Patriot's Path

View of Black River wetlands from the trail

Patriot's Path on a utility easement out of Black River WMA

Patriot's Path in Chester Twp.

After lunch, we continued along Patriot's Path, which followed Hugg Road for a short distance, then headed into the woods, in Black River Wildlife Management Area. It made it's way over a bit of a hill, then came to a field. It was an obscure spot, but we found our way through on an old farm lane, then across a power line. We descended through woods, on what seemed to be somewhat of a new section, then reached the abandoned Chester Branch of the Lackawanna Railroad where Patriots Path turns left.We continued to the left on the railroad bed for a long distance. This section always seems to go on forever. A young couple asked me when the trail got to the Black River, which I had to reply it didn't, not in this direction.We continued on to where the trail turned left off of the rail bed, and we met up with Andrea and her boyfriend. Eric was having a tough time, so he opted to walk out to Pleasant Hill Road, and Dave accompanied him. They would walk up Rt 206 to Chester, then rejoin us later in town.The trail followed a utility easement steeply up hill away from the rail bed, then crossed the power line again at an angle. It continued on a woods road for a short distance, then turned left on a foot path entering Black River Recreation Area.

Patriot's Path in Chester Twp

There was a beautiful section of woods we passed through with a tiny brook flowing in a trench that reminded me of Turkey Brook in Mt. Olive. The trail then made it's way out into an area of succession fields with a lot of Autumn Olive growing in it. We exited the Autumn Olives into the open fields of the park.

On Patriot's Path in Chester

The trail passed by some sort of retention basin and then came to the edge of an access road. To the right, there was an open concession stand, which was a great stop. Captain Soup bought me a hot dog, and Al got me an ice cream cone. It was an excellent little spot for a break.

Hiking through Highland Park in Chester

Barn just outside of Chester

Old telephone pole farm, Chester

Telephone pole farm

Andrea and her boyfriend cut out early, and walked back in to Chester, as did Jamie just before that, because she had to be to work by 4.The rest of us continued along a paved path heading north out of the park to Rt 513. There was a "temporary end of trail" sign on the Patriot's Path vertical marker, but there was also an opening in the fence to Highland Ridge Park across the way as well. We crossed through the opening, and saw a Patriots Path marker on the opposite side of the post. We walked out to the ball fields and to the tree line on the other side and turned right.We descended a bit through this nice park, crossed an access road, and then continued to the old telephone pole farm.This was where poles were tested to see which wood or whatever was best, and what lasted the longest.

Hiking through the telephone pole farm

Telephone pole farm, Chester

Telephone pole farm area

We walked between the poles parallel with Rt 513. This is a really interesting spot. I'd seen the place so many times over the years but never really went over to walk between them. I remember thinking I was going to try it with my brother, Tea Biscuit on a Chester hike over a decade ago, but we never made it to it, and I never tried to get back. I hope that when the Patriot's Path is blazed through the area, that they choose to go through here.

View from a giant knoll on the west side of Chester

View from a giant knoll on the west side of Chester

Captain Soup on the knoll

View from the knoll above Rt 510, Chester

Captain Soup along Rt 510, Chester

Susie with her Martin Backpacker kn Chester

We continued out of the pole farm area, past an apparently abandoned building on the left, then through a field. There was some sort of utility or something to the left through a line of trees on a berm, so we walked across it. On the other side, there was a large round hill. I remembered talking to Morris County trails Foreman Russ Nee about this great hillside with an outstanding view. I thought this must have been what he was talking about. I had been hoping that our friend Teun Ott would be able to join us and show us the route, because he knew it, but he was out sick with a cold.Captain Soup and I were in front, and made our way through a field to a mowed roadway to the top of the hillside. The view was fantastic, just about 30 degrees all around of the countryside and light development. The view was especially nice to the southeast.We took a nice break at the view point and waited for everyone to catch up. We then continued down a mowed path to the east, toward an elementary school and Rt 510. I slipped and fell while trying to get down to Rt 510.

We turned right and followed the road out to Rt 513, where we stopped for a break at an "On the Run" gas station. Irina bought me a bag of Sour Cream and Onion chips there. For those who like chips, the "Dirty" brand make amazing ones.From this point, the route of Patriot's Path follows the road through the middle of Chester, a scenic and historic route that is worthwhile for the trail to pass, though it is not blazed yet.

Hikers On The Run in Chester NJ

Nice break spot in Chester

Historic building in Chester

Good deal for beer and bugers? Ewww...

Chester NJ

Ruins along Patriot's Path on the east side of Chester

Ruins along Patriot's Path

Chester Furnace site

Black River dam site from Chester Branch of the CNJ, now Patriot's Path

Patriots Path near Tanners Brook Rd.

New section of Patriots Path south of Palmer Park

Patriots Path nearing Palmer Park

Patriot's Path in Palmer Park

We walked through town and passed some historic buildings. We rejoined Dave and Eric at a pavilion at a little park before continuing through town.Once we reached the west side of the town proper, there was a bad motorcycle accident which caused us to have to cross to the other side of the road. There were a lot of people working on the guy that was laying there in the road near the overturned bike. I could not find anything in the news about the accident. Hope all is ok.We crossed back over the road on the other side and continued out to the Patriot's Path on the Chester Hill Branch of the CNJ railroad. I'd hiked this line before, but it was recently blazed as the new Patriot's Path section.

Craig, Al, Jim, and Eric cut out here to the car they had parked nearby at Cooper Grist Mill.

We passed by old mine pits and there was orange sulfer water draining beside the right of way.We headed down hill and cross the power line, where white blazes continued both left along the power line and right. I suppose they just haven't gotten to fixing them yet. We turned right, and then right again to continue on the original blue Patriots Path route to the right of the rail bed. It took us past some ruins, and then out across Furnace Road.We continued through woods and past the site of Chester Furnace, then up onto the old CNJ right of way once more. We followed it across the Black River, then to the right as it made it's way through fields and an evergreen grove to Tanners Brook Road.This used to be the end of the trail, but it was now extended through. The trail turned right on Tanners Brook Road, which soon became a dirt road. It then turned left off of the road through woods gradually climing. Along the way, another white blazed trail, but with 2 by 6 inch marks like the AT rather than the 2 by 3 like the rest of the Patriots Path joined in. We stayed on the Patriots Path markers making our way gradually up hill. Many side paths with these other white markers continued concurrently with the Patriots Path for a while.After cresting a hill and crossing a power line, the trail switched back and forth and reached a bench near the intersection of some sort of buried utility line. We re-grouped here.From this point, the trail turned left along the utility line, crossed an access road from a golf course, passed over a wet ditch, then turned right down another access of some kind. It crossed a golf course road, then headed into Palmer Park, a small municipal park. The trail skirted the right side of the park, then the access road, and turned onto a paved path within the park. Eric came back and picked up Dave because he had a prior engagement.

Along Patriots Path near Bartley

Patriots Path between Palmer Park and Columbia Trail

Columbia Trail bridge in Bartley

The white attire crew, Barley NJ

The rest of us followed the paved path, which led back onto the access road to end. Patriots Path continued out across Bartley Road and to the left briefly, then cut into the woods. It followed a short section of woods to the Columbia Trail. Patriots Path turns left on Columbia Trail to Long Valley, but our route back to the cars was to follow Columbia Trail to near it's end, to the right.We headed along the trail and I joked with John Bradford about forming committees and having quorums, and yelling "BAH! NO OPTION!".I jumped into the South Branch of the Raritan to the left and took a nice end of the day swim, which was pretty refreshing. We then crossed a nice re-decked old rail bridge and continued the last short distance back to the parking lot where the vehicles were.Many of us headed up to The After in Flanders to have a nice dinner. Captain Soup and I each had the bison burgers, which were amazing.This hike went to show that even though we covered an area that I had done so many times before, the trail had changed quite a lot. With five new sections connected by old sections, it made a familiar hike seem totally new to me.

The white attire crew, Barley NJ