Hike #625; Warren Highlands
5/6/12 Warren Highlands; Easton to Hoff-Vanetta/Harmony Twp with Shelly Janes, Carol and Rob Creamer, Sue Bickford Martin, John Spiridon, John Bradford Ladutko, Lyz Hagenbuch, Bobbi Landrock, Joe Tag, Jaque Melo, Amanda Rosenblatt, Deb and John Esposito, Patti Meckler, Penni Meckler, and Kathy Barlow (spelling?).
Group shot at the Fulmer Mine, Marble Hill
My next hike would be another point to point on the new and proposed Warren Highlands Trail route.I had done this hike before, but not in the same way, not since I had completed such a huge section of it.During the course of the week, I worked tirelessly to complete the section of the trail from the Northampton Street Free Bridge to Belvidere Road beyond Marble Hill.It was difficult getting done what I did.
We had been talking about getting this trail together for a couple years with the Board of Recreation, and I decided a while back to take the lead on it.The previous Summer, my friends Action Adam, Commando Tom, Corrin, The Colonel, Jack, Cory, Susie, Dave, Albert, Major Tom, and many others joined me on many scouting hikes to determine where the trail would go. We had a great time exploring the property involved, and I am glad they were able to be there with me through it. Even further back, I did other scouting hikes through the area with hopes that I could one day help develop the trail. I never would have guessed I would be doing it almost by myself, and actually make it happen.On one of the previous hikes, I was very thankful that Cory Salveson was able to be there with his computer to help with GPS, so we would know how to get out of the property.
old CNJ bridge, Easton
Mural, Easton
Mural in Easton
Bushkill Street Bridge. Rt 22, Phillipsburg along Warren Highlands Trail route
In the weeks prior to the hike, I began working heavily. I blazed the route of the trail along roads from the Northampton Street Free Bridge (and was detained for two hours for painting the blazes by the bridge commission who didn't know what I was doing), then blazed and cleared old mine and woods roads up to the top. I developed both blue blazed Warren Highlands Trail and orange blazed Mine Trail so that the public could make a lollipop loop in the preserve.After that, I scouted a section with Albert Krouse from the Warren County Planning Department and flagged off the route we found to be best. I then returned and began cutting the trail. I did minimal rock work and cleared tons of branches and undergrowth through several all new sections of trail. I finished blazing the entire route from the bridge to the fields atop Marble Hill by the Friday before the hike.
Inside giant pipe
We met at Hoff Vanetta Farmstead in Harmony Township in the morning because they had an event going on, and then headed to Easton. Some of the others spotted cars at Merril Creek Reservoir and the rest of us headed to the beginning. We started walking the trail of Lehigh Canal along the river, then cut up to cross the Rt 611 bridge. We stopped at the mini mart tobacco store for some drinks and snacks, then continued along the park along the riverside out to the free bridge where we met with the rest of the group.From here, we crossed the free bridge, and followed the blazed route from Northampton Street along South Main Street. We passed some of the ruins and continued along to Broad Street, and I think Fifth Street. We turned right, then left onto North Main Street, then took a break at the giant culvert.
Giant pipe
I led everyone who wanted to go through the giant pipe out to the Delaware, because it's such an interesting route, and back. On the other side, we saw exoskeletons of some sort of bug looking like an earwig.
Endoskeletons!
We headed back through the pipe, which I ran through in the dark on the way back, a creepy fun feeling, and then we followed North Main Street to where the new Warren Highlands Trail turned off to the right. It follows a utility line for a bit, then follows the old mining road heading up Marble Hill gradually, with some limited views of the Delaware below to the left.
The group at the Fulmer Mine, Marble Hill
Group shot
Warren Highlands Trail on Marble Hill
When we reached the Mine Trail, I turned everyone off because it's a more interesting route, and it comes back to Warren Highlands Trail anyway. On the way, we cleared some large fallen branches with my corona hand saws, which were really handy. Everyone was a big help making it happen fast.When we reached the mouth of the Fulmer Mine, two guys and a girl were hanging out. I think we startled them a bit. They turned out to be pretty cool, and even took a group picture for us. As it turns out, the one guy said he used to live up there! Maybe it was his tent we saw up there when we were there the previous Summer.He was genuinely interested in the history of the area which was great. I gave him a Metrotrails business card. He was concerned that we were "ruining" his spot, but I explained that access would justify future open spaces, and he was very open and listened. They turned out to be cool people and it was a neat experience.We left the mine and continued to the Warren Highlands Trail and the overlook toward Saint Anthony's Nose in PA. Sue explained that this was known as "Hog Rift" and told us a river keeper told her about a story of a man who fed his pigs bad fermented liquor or something and they all died, so he threw them into the river and they got all hung up and blocked the river in the narrows.
We continued along the trail down through Rhododendrons, and then onto a wider pathway which led down hill. I constructed new trail to the right of this, and then above some washed out areas of the new high school property. This wasn't like this until the clearing happened, and I was thinking maybe they might have to mitigate what had happened. Maybe we could have a more formal trail built here, and the new high school could use the route for their cross country team.
Giant Northern Red Oak on Marble Hill, Warren Highlands Trail
Warren Highlands Trail, which I constructed just two days prior!
Mushrooms along Warren Highlands Trail
Along Warren Highlands Trail, Marble Hill
Warren Highlands Trail, Marble Hill
Warren Highlands Trail, Marble Hill
Along Warren Highlands Trail, Marble Hill
marble hill
Warren Highlands Trail, Marble Hill
Warren Highlands Trail, Marble Hill
We continued walking from here, past where an ATV access comes in from the school property. The trail then uses that route to cross two deep creek washes. On the other side, I constructed all new trail heading up hill away from the washes.The route heads up and past what might be the largest tree on the Marble Hill properties, a giant Northern Red Oak. I thought this would be a good spot to go by, because it's so big and because it's our state tree.The trail continues past the oak tree, then cuts off to the left after a slight switch back. I brought it past two more large trees and then brought it back down hill a bit. It passes by the beginning of an old stone row and then parallels it for a bit. I had to cut the route down hill to go around a giant fallen tree for a bit. There was one really bad spot where I went through an area with low vines. I broke my hand saw out in this stretch at one point too, where my bolt in it came out altogether. I replaced it with new nuts and a lock washer.I also had a problem on Friday when I found that someone had taken down my flagging tape. I had to do all new scouting in addition to the trail construction. I found a giant Yellow Poplar with a really wide base, which was interesting looking, as well as an enormous vine that must be years old, so I brought the trail by it.The trail then leads out to a woods road and turns left, which was an easy route to just clear a bit. Everyone helped me drag more branches off of this route as we went through.After crossing another utility line and descending a bit, I built another section of new trail ascending to the fields to the right. I cut it in at an angle and then past a big tree with a bend in it. From there, it makes a rather steep ascent to the field and past a hunter's tree stand. It was absolutely the best place to come to the fields, and I know it will probably be an issue when then hunting season starts again, but I don't have that much land to work with so this was where it had to come out and that was that.At the field, I had started blazing, but it wasn't done yet. We followed the field edge up to the top of a knoll with some great 180 degree views. This was the perfect lunch break spot. While everyone was waiting, I grabbed my paint and a foam brush and blazed the field perimeters down to the right side. At the corner of the field, it was a perfect place for turn blazes on a big tree to the left, and a rock for those coming from the other direction.
View from Warren Highlands Trail, Marble Hill
View on Warren Highlands Trail, Marble Hill
Lunch break on Warren Highlands Trail
Fields on Marble Hill
I continued with markings along the edge of the field, which had a slight turn in it, to it's corner. I had done some minimal clearing before on a previous visit, cutting from the field down to the next farm lane. I blazed this on this date, but decided not to blaze more on the next stretch just yet. I did put in a carsonite post with a turn blaze from the road up to the field for now. I need to do more clearing there, and a little bit more on out to Belvidere Road.
View from Warren Highlands Trail, Marble Hill looking south
There were some nice views from the field edges through the trees as well. The farm lane we came out to was known as Kelly Lane, which came off of Belvidere Road. It was one of our proposed routes, and should have been a state right of way, but someone has cars parked on it, probably illegally. No matter, the route we had picked is much better overall.Consequently, there was a road sign that had said "Kelly Lane" on Belvidere Rd, but someone had taken the top of the sign off.
Warren Highlands Trail descending Marble Hill
We turned right on Kelly Lane, then turned left from it into a nice swath of light woods with nice high grasses between two fields ahead. My route was still flagged off through here fortunately. I remember thinking I should have just marked it instead of putting my paint away, because it was almost ready. Oh well, next time. I would like to talk to the land owners anyway, first.
Where Warren Highlands Trail reaches Belvidere Rd.
We turned right at the end of the swath of woods, through a section of field, and then headed down hill onto a woods lane, then skirted the backs of some yards. We then cut out to Belvidere Road through the vacant state lot, mowed by the adjacent land owners out to Belvidere Road where we turned left.On the road, a guy pulled up who was on the planning board, and I told him we were walking the Warren Highlands Trail. He made a comment about "if they ever finish it". I said "I just finished it!". Lol.
Warren Highlands Trail in a county field area off Belvidere Rd
We followed the road for a little bit, then cut off to the right into the fields owned by Warren County, and skirted their edge out to the end. There is a wash in the middle of it that I'm concerned about bringing the trail across, but we'll quite literally cross that bridge when we get to it. We followed the field straight and to the right.
Warren Highlands Trail, near Farmers Fair Grounds, Harmony Twp
My proposed route, unmarked here, crosses a swath of woods and a tiny stream that really doesn't require a bridge but a plank one could be laid down. My route was still slightly cut since my last visit. We skirted the fields to the left on the other side, through Farmers Fair property out to Strykers Road where we turned left.
Muscovy Duck mother at the Bill Kopf farm
As we walked along the section of road, we met Bill Kopf, a guy I had talked to who lives along the edge of the fair grounds. He was amenable to the trail coming across his land, and even having a bridge put over the Lopatcong Creek, which I thought was really nice. He even invited us all to come out through his property to show us the stream where he's talking about. He had Muscovy Ducks wandering around, and he showed us one that had chicks in one of his barns, which was quite cute. He then brought us back to the creek, where he had a lovely little spot. We discussed fencing and how we could bring the trail out to the creek side. He said the state was going to be doing wetland restoration in the area and I figurd this would be a perfect time to get in there and have a bridge done with permits. Mr. Kopf stands to benefit from the trail as well, because I foresee equestrian use on the next section, and he's planning on having horses in the near future. Things just seem to be coming together so well as I see it.
Creek at Farmers Fair Grounds
We walked through the property and then headed out to Rt 519 using a tiny foot bridge. The road bridge was being replaced while we were there, and there was a temporary bridge over the creek next to the road bridge. I figured it's a good time to try to get a pedestrian lane put in as well. It could be a great thing.
Bridge replacement on 519, Harmony
We followed 519 a bit, and then turned left up hill along the edge of Harkers Hollow Golf Course, and turned left onto Fairway Lane.
Warren Highlands Trail route, Harmony
At the top of the hill, we passed Mr. Donnely's house, who's son I worked with at Hunterdon County for years. I met Mr. Donnely the last time we had hiked this. This time, we turned left into the top of the golf course and bushwhacked to an old woods road heading up hill.
Warren Highlands Trail view at Harkers Hollow
There were some nice views out across the golf course at the clearing. The woods road headed steeply up hill from here. We followed it to the first intersection and turned left. We stayed at level, then lost some elevation for a bit. We continued on from here above Harkers Hollow for a bit.
Warren Highlands Trail, above Harkers Hollow
Warren Highlands Trail view above Harkers Hollow
Warren Highlands Trail near Wester Rd
Warren Highlands Trail reaching Wester Rd
View of Wind Gap from proposed Warren Highlands Trail route
The woods road was pretty nice and remained rather clear. This was going to be a really easy section of trail to develop. We continued on along the trail which had some nice field views off to the left, and eventually led us to Wester Road. The woods road skirted the bottom of someone's yard, but the maps show that this is state land. They had a stump with a posted sign on it, but we ignored it and turned right on Wester Road up hill.We headed up hill a bit, and then turned left onto Kline Lane, a dead end road that showed there was a state right of way going through it.We followed the road to a utility right of way up hill to Merril Creek Reservoir property. There were some nice views toward Wind Gap here.
Along proposed Warren Highlands Trail route
Proposed Warren Highlands Trail route
Proposed Warren highlands trail route
I regrouped everyone briefly, and let those who were planning on cutting out early know how they could do so. We would soon be in Merril Creek property and those cutting out would need to turn right on the perimeter trail while the rest of us went left.We continued up hill, and soon crossed over Fox Farm Road. The right of way led us to the reservoir trails, at the intersection of the spur trail to the Fox Farm Road parking area and the Perimeter Trail. We said goodbye to some of the group members turning right who headed to their cars, and the rest of us continued left.
Proposed spur trail route
Old farm ruins
Old abandoned corn crib
Proposed spur trail route
Terrific utility line times
Hoff~Vanetta farm
Harmony Twp view
Harmony twp view
Harmony twp view
Harmony Twp view
We followed the Merril Creek Permimeter Trail for a bit, until we got to the next dike, and then I turned everyone off to the left, out toward Fox Farm Road again. We turned right on the road and then followed an access road down hill toward the pipeline to the Delaware, my proposed route for the spur trail down to Van Nest-Hoff-Vanetta Farmstead.We followed the road, then turned left off of it onto the pipeline with a good woods road along it. We had to carefully cross a stream in a gully, then ascended on the other side past an abandoned farm site with old barn ruins and corn crib. We then made our way on a more level area with gently rolling hills. The woods road led to a mound entrance to the big pipe, the top of which has a fantastic 360 degree view.
Water Gap view
Harmony twp view
Harmony twp
Harmony twp and Wind Gap view
Proposed spur trail
Hoff Vanetta farmstead
Hoff Vanetta area
Carol tackles Captain Soup
Hoff Vanetta and the Soup Mobile
A lot of the group went up to the top to admire the view with me. It was great. The Delaware Water Gap looked amazing.We could also see Marble Hill to the southwest, and other hillsides to the north. The entire Kittatinny Ridge was awesome from up there.We continued down hill from this site to Ridge Road. When we got there, a lady pulled up to us and asked what we were doing. I told her about the hike and the Warren Highlands Trail. She was very interested, and she told me her girl scout was looking for a gold award, and we chatted about how we could have her adopt a section to complete the trail. This was getting more exciting all the time. It was looking like I was not only completing the trail, but inadvertently finding ways of making it sustainable.We continued down Ridge Road to the ATV access, which led back out to the pipeline. We continued down hill on the pipeline for a bit. We got to where we could see the farm below Hoff Vanetta. We turned right through the fields and had to do some bushwhacking in order to get back to the farm.
Hoff Vanetta barn
Hoff Vanetta farmstead
Carol is tired
We made our way through some thick weeds, but it wasn't as bad as I'd remembered it being. We could handle doing a trail here with no problem. My proposed spur trail would be the biggest long shot of all of the trail possibilities, but if it happens, it will be fantastic.We headed back to the cars, and Carol ran after Captain Soup and tackled him.Most of us went to have a great dinner at Key City Diner in Phillipsburg. It was a great day, great hike, and great group. I felt incredibly positive after the experience with not only the group, but land owners along the way. Things seemed like they were certainly going to continue to get better with time.
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