Hike #677; Delaware Water Gap to Penn Estates

 Hike #677; Delaware Water Gap to Penn Estates

The group along Broadhead Creek at Gravel Place

1/19/13 Delaware Water Gap to Penn Estates (Stroudsburg) with Michele Valerio, Brandan Jermyn, Frank Meloi, "Commando Tom" Petrucci, Laura Allen Cunningham, Vinn ?, Seth Gollhardt, Russ Moyer, Teun Ott, Ninad, Pooja, Bill DeLaar, Tim Kovich, Bilal ?, Jane Merryman, T Mason, Betty Demore, Mariya ?, Murtuza ?, Lori Hanni, Eric Pace, Jack Lowry, Chrissi Carney, Deirdre Kondrk, Scott Kondrk, Brad Baesic, and Allie Aniska.

Our next hike would be a point to point between the Water Gap and Penn Estates where Michele Valerio and her husband Scott live. They were good enough to host the party of the month, and have the hike end at their home. It turned out to be an epic trip with diversity and laughs as intended. We met at the old mail box lot in Penn Estates near the corner of Penn Estates and Hallett Road, then shuttled to Resort Point in the water gap, stopping at Wal Mart to spot cars.

The group in Glen Park

The hike would encompass a lot of stuff I'd done in the past, much of which has changed, as well as a lot of new things. Some of this I'd done on full hikes, some of it only on a scouting hike with Jillane, and other parts now had official trail where in the past I bushwhacked or whatever. Either way, it was time to revisit the area.

We started walking from where the former Kittatinny Hotel used to stand, the first of the huge resorts to grace the Delaware Water Gap when it was the vacation capitol of the world. Unfortunately, the beautiful building burned around 1935, but the foundation now makes up much of the resort point overlook and parking area. I showed everyone where Caldeno Creek, named for the three explorers that first found it, flowed through the kitchen. Part of the foundation is still in place there.

We then followed the trail up the old stone steps, dating back to the time of the resort, to the top of a cascade and turned left along the cliff area. This was the former Appalachian Trail route. It was also the first section of the AT I'd ever hiked with my grandfather when I was 3 or 4 years old.

I always liked this section better than the actual AT, because there were more views. We followed the trail to the AT and then followed it past Council Rock and through nice Rhododendrons for a bit. When we got to the unmarked side trail that leads to former Lake Latini, we turned. The former late was much dryer than it was my first time there so many years ago. It was a full lake as I remembered it. By looking it Google Earth, I was able to find that it was purged and mostly drained in the early 1990s. The last time I can see it as a full lake was 1993 or 4 I think.

We walked along the east shore of the former lake, now basically a wetland, to the Mt. Minsi Fire Road and turned right. We followed this for a bit to the woods road leading to Table Rock. There was a decent amount of snow on the ground, but we didn't have too tough a time. Table Rock wasn't as cool because there was too much snow to appreciate the wide open rocks, but the seasonal view of the gap was okay. We followed the trail down to Lake Lenape, then turned left to head around it, then onto the AT into town via the access road and Mountain Road.In town, we left the AT route and headed down hill to the intersection where we stopped at the Apple Pie Bakery, long time favorite break spot in the gap. Frank treated me to pie, hot dog and donuts. We had a nice break, then continued on 611 north up hill toward Foxtown Hill Road, but first turned right into the Delaware Water Gap Cemetery. Cemeteries are always a nice touch on hikes, adding something different. We checked out some cool old tomb stones while Betty ran back to the bakery where she left her poles.

Back together, we crossed the cemetery and Foxtown Hill Road, then cut directly onto a woods road leading up onto Godfrey Ridge.

I had found a trail plan showing that the "Godfrey Ridge Trail" was to go in here, and most of it was now county property. We followed the route I had scouted the previous year with Jillane, past abandoned building ruins, then sort of switch backing up the mountain on old roadways. We eventually got to a quarried spot with a steep ATV climb. Most of us went up this, though others went around. It's a fun little tough slate type of slope climb similar to the Shrub of Might on the Warren Railroad hike.

At the top, I led everyone out briefly to the ridge line where we had seasonal views to the north. We then continued on a woods road west along the top of Godfrey Ridge. The woods road sort of disappeared and became more of a narrow track trail heading up along rock outcroppings with views both east and west, of Delaware Water Gap as well as the Broadhead Creek in the deep glen below. We could also see the new bridge construction on Rt 80's Marshalls Creek exit. We continued to the pinnacle of the ridge, then descended slightly until we found a path on the right. This led us down to and across the power line right of way, then down further to I think a gas line. We turned right to follow the gas line toward the creek and the abandoned New York, Susquehanna, and Western Railroad, constructed in 1881 and abandoned in 1955. Once on the rail bed, we turned left into a cut, then along the creek often with nice views of the glen. The right of way is thickly lined with Rhododendron, which is uncommon of rail beds. It's one of my favorites to hike, having first done it on a hike in May of 2004.

There is one section where the rail bed is completely washed away, just below a former dam site on the creek. The abutments of the dam are both in place, and it makes me wonder if the dam was destroyed in 55, or if it were purged intentionally. It was obviosly cut, whether it were after or before the flood I do not know. It would make sense that a long stretch of railroad would be washed out with a dam break in that area. We made our way around and back to the railroad bed, then continued out to Glen Park.

Lori joined us at Glen Park on the rail bed, and we continued on along Collins Street to Rt 191 and turned right. Eric joined us along the road at this point. We walked down hill, across Rt 80 and to the main street of Stroudsburg where we turned right. We continued through town and stopped at the Stroudsburg cemetery where I told everyone about Jacob Stroud of Danbury who founded the town. We were joined here by Jack, but he ran back to park his car more appropriately.About seven in the group were going to cut out at this point, having left their vehicles at the Wal Mart, and the remainder of us would continue. We said some of our goodbyes here because it's a weird spot to do it out on the bridge where we got on the Stroud Region Levee Trail. Chrissi, Deirdre, and Scott joined us on the road headed toward the bridge into East Stroudsburg, and then soon after the others cut out.We crossed the road, and then headed north along the east side of Broadhead Creek atop the flood retention berms.It was cool to have the perspective of the creek. I hadn't hiked this section in several years and realy had never brought a big group on it. I think my first time hiking it was in late 2003 with Ryan "Peeps" Short. We continued on the trail, and made our way past the local school. When I'd hiked this before, the levee was not an official trail, but it was used as such. It now had signage on it. At Dansbury Park, a short section was paved. At the school, it followed paved pathways around athletic fields, where before I just skirted the creek and hopped over inlets. We made our way through and to another section of levee, then into the woods. Jack and I sang a few songs, and we were feeling pretty good. I chatted for a while with Russ too. He had only been out with us a few times since my departure from AMC, before which he was certainly a core group member. It was really nice to have him along again. I'm hoping he joins us more often now.The trail led us into the woods and the frisbee golf course in Yetter Park. I think I saw what was probably the old NYS&W right of way, heading to where it originally terminated at Gravel Place. This was no longer needed after 1893 when the wholly owned subsidiary, the Wilkes Barre and Eastern connected the main line with Wilkes Barre itself. We had just finished hiking that entire line the previous year.

When we reached Gravel Place at Mill Creek Road, we turned right briefly to visit the convenience store. We also took a nice break on the rock outcroppings along Broadhead Creek. After the break, we crossed the bridge, then followed Schubert Road to Youngwood Drive, then turned right on 191 north. Brad and Allie joined us here and walked with us for the remainder of the hike. Brad gave me a Metrotrails logo for use for shirts, which looked really nice. We chatted about getting him a full size thing to start producing them for sale. I can't help but feel there are exciting times coming up for Metrotrails and everyone who is very much a part of it. I looked back behind me and ahead of me at all of the people walking, having a great time (except for the several who had to pee for a long time and couldn't find a spot. We stopped at the roller rink. lol). It was amazing that I had such a large group; although we had a group leave, an equal number of people had joined and kept the energy level high, and there was still so much to look forward to. I had a quite moment of fulfillment in my mind.

After our roller rink stop, which must have looked like lunacy, with Jack strumming his carbon fiber guitar, putting out genius improvised songs as always, we continued on to Reds Park. We cut into the woods and bushwhacked down hill to the access lane toward Broadhead Creek and another parking lot. We then followed a trail through the woods to the edge of the creek once more.

We continued out along a crushed stone path to a pond parallel with the creek. I remembered stopping here on a hike with Cathy years ago, and finished off a bottle of wine that was made by her boss's late wife. I thought to keep the bottle that day, since it was her last, and Cathy scolded me, telling me to throw it out. I left it in the can near the pond, and took a picture of the bottle sitting there, and I told the others about that. Jokes of course followed, as well as comments and metaphors. I began thinking about it myself, and I suppose it is. When something serves no good, why do we hold onto it? I didn't even want to bring that wine that day, but Cathy convinced me to. She was right, because it would not have lasted forever. I had a good memory of it, and I had a picture of the bottle to bring back that memory.  Having the bottle did me no good. My relationship with Cathy would soon come to such an end, because it was doing me more harm than good. Just as with the wine bottle and photograph, I have done what I need to do to move on, and capture the positive memories and photographic keepsakes.

Ironically, after having these thoughts, a day later my girlfriend Jillane posted the following quotation on the wall of my Extreme Hiking group on Facebook:

Could the prescription be a Mike hike?

"In actual fact, boredom is now causing, and certainly bringing to psychiatrists, more problems to solve than distress. And these problems are growing increasingly crucial from the enormous increase in the leisure hours available to the average worker. The pity of it is that many of these will not know what to do with their newly acquired free time.

Let us consider, for instance, "Sunday neurosis"; that kind of depression which afflicts people who become aware of the lack of content in their lives when the rush of the busy week is over and the void within themselves becomes manifest.

One way of finding a meaning in life is by encountering someone or experiencing something-such as goodness, truth or beauty- by experiencing nature and culture, or by experiencing another human being in his very uniqueness.

The person who lives actively is like a man who removes each successive leaf from his calendar and files it neatly and carefully away with its predecessors, after first having jotted down a few diary notes on the back. He can reflect with pride and joy on all the richness set down in these notes, on all the life he has already lived to the fullest. What will it matter to him if he notices that he is growing old? He will think "Instead of possibilities, I have realities in my past."

From "Man's Search For Meaning" 1959

And it doesn't hurt that the hike leader has already fulfilled three of three ways of finding meaning in his life, according to the psychiatric community.

It was really nice to wake up to this show of support and acceptance for the work of passion I've had for the past sixteen years.

We continued along the trail, which soon ended at a tight pinch point on the Broadhead Creek. We had to cut through some weeds to where steep cliff and rocky outcroppings protruded into the creek. My previous visit, I had hopped over the rocks. This time, most of the group went up above, while Deirdre, Frank, and I remained on the rocks below, and fortunately didn't fall into the fast moving water. On the other side, we reached a power line, then the southern end of Pinebrook Park, where the scout camp used to be.In the flood of 1955, a camp was washed out, killing the children staying there. My former boss from A&P in Belvidere, Charlie, told me of his horrific story, being trapped on the roof of a building and watching a cabin full of kids go over a waterfall created by the flood.

The trail was somewhat washed out this time as well, with the first of two bridges over a small tributary washed a bit. The first bridge was still across, but sitting off it's berm abutment. It had a cable attatching it beneath the surface I could see, which saved it. We continued on the trail near the creek, then across another creek on a bridge near it's confluence. We then reached the active area of Pinebrook Park. The gate was closed for parking, so it's a good thing we didn't try to use this. They also now had signes saying that there was a $20 non residential fee in season to use the lot.

We headed up to 191, turned left, and then right on Hallet Road. We crossed a bridge over a creek, and then a small stone bridge over another as we headed up hill toward Penn Estates. We cut to the left across a field, which ended up being wet to cut a corner, passed a nice view to the west, and soon reached Penn Estates. Michele lives only a half mile from there, where the party ensued.

Her husband, Scott, was really cool. A great host with contagious laugh and amazing chef skills. He had already made for us delicious chili, turkey empanadas, and deep fried balls of rice and cheese. We hungry hikers made short work of those, and he put more on.

Scott had a bar he fashioned in his basement, which was fantastic. Everyone had a great time, and Scott even talked of doing a Marti Gras event in the near future. With so much land around the place, we could do several hikes ending there easily. There was plenty of laughing and silliness, and Frank trying on Michele's pimp coat. Mr. Buckett showed up as well, which is always guarunteed to lift spirits, both literally and figuratively. Allie further added to it with her awesome hula hooping skills.

There is so much to look forward to in the near future. I'm glad to have such a great group of friends, and to keep meeting more, who add their own personal ingredients to compliment this group which is as great as Scott's cooking.