Hike #691; Warren Railroad

 Hike #691; Annual Warren Railroad Hike

The group

3/23/13 Warren Railroad Anniversery Hike with Scott "Tea Biscuit" Helbing, Amanda Lance, Barbara Helbing, Rich Pace, Eric Pace, Mark "Bobo" Godfrey, Brandan Jermyn, Stephen Argentina, Shelly Janes, Matt Davis, Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, Lyz  Hagenbuch, Ric Giantisco, Bill Kuhfuss, Jason Kumpas, Amanda Murphy, Krisanne Pederson, Oscar Alvaredo, Jaque Melo, Betty Demers, William "Guillermo" Fabel, Carol Van Giezen, Russ Moyer, Frank Meloi, Ted Wright, Tamara Sapilak, Michele Valerio, Dan Lurie, Sue Olivar, Ron Phelps, Bonnie Peters, Sharon Daley Kelly, Jack Lowry, Larry Butler, Christina Castelliano, Chris Herbig, Terri Allen, Guisseppe DeCaro, Tim Kovich, Lynn Van Norsdall, Alan Eisberg, Gregg Hudis, DJ Ray Cordts, Amanda Povinelli, Jon Wilson, Laney Sazenski, Teun Ott, Pete Beck, Susie Duncan, David "Captain Soup" Campbell, Ron Lozowski, Jim Vittnor, Bill Delaar, Herbert Southall, Meggan Hain, Diane Borowsky, Candace Fetske, Som Bhamididati, Mike Chrepka, Shawn Wattes, Steve Levo, Lisa Schustak, Joe Nanfara, Rob Narker?, Kelly McCarthy, Nancy Robart?, ?, ?, ?, ?, and Major Tom Conroy.

I apologize for the names of participants I've missed here. I thank everyone for their patience during the arrangement of this event. Feel free to correct me on whatever I got wrong!
It's hard to believe this was my sixteen year anniversery hike. It really doesn't feel so much different than that first time, although part of me dreads the obligatory feeling I sometimes get from putting this together. Overall, it's always rewarding. With all of the Meetup groups I've been posting on, this promised to be the largest group I'd ever assembled long before the actual date. I knew I would have to handle this one a bit differently than I had in previous years.
I recruited some of my close friends who were familiar with the hike to assist me in co-leading responsibilities. I would as usual meet the group at Port Colden Mall, but only those doing the entire hike or meeting late. Eric Pace was going to meet the group cutting out in Oxford at that point and handle his own car shuttle for that group. This proved to be a very successful and perfect way to do it. Also, as cars filled up, I sent them on their way to the beginning point rather than the usual trying to car shuttle everyone at the same time. This also proved to be good. The only problem was confusion as to where exactly we were going to park. It really didn't matter, and it worked out alright.
At the beginning of the hike, we had I believe 68 participants, with more joining later. At one point there would be over seventy of us in one group. What an amazing feeling. This was my single largest group ever.
From the Port Colden Mall, everything went rather smoothly, and we headed up to Delaware where we'd start the hike near the middle of town. It was a shame we couldn't start at Portland like we always used to because of the bridge problems, but maybe another time I suppose.
The beginning was quite a slow start. I gave everyone a history talk, and then we moved on slowly past the former Delaware Station site, and despite my feeling weird about it, we went right through Sanico area. We then headed to the former bridge site at Clarence Street where we always get the group photo. I was blown away by the look of it all.
I tried not to take too much time, and we were off along the rail bed heading southbound. Our next regular stop was Smitty's Deli. We walked in, where the proprietor was very happy to see is and greeted us warmly. He was gracious enough to let everyone use his restroom, and hopefully he made a good profit off of us all. Matt left him with some copies of the Warren Railroad book because he told us he wanted to sell them in his store! What a great opportunity!
We continued on from here, after quite a long wait, through to Ramseyburg. We stopped for the Shrub of Might activity, but not for everyone to try it. I went first, and I think Stephen of course had to, as well as Brandan, I think Oscar, definitely Ric, and I think Lyz tried it too. I'm sure a few others went up as well, which is always entertaining.
I tried not to take forever once again, and we moved on from here to cross Ramseyburg Road and follow the rail bed out to Manunka Chunk Tunnel. I ran back and forth through the group to check on everyone. Everyone seemed in pretty high spirits. Matt had run back earlier to get something from his car, and he said three people were turning back because they didn't think it was going to be along the highway the entire time. I don't know if they left or not, it was just too hard to stay in touch. I took head counts, but it was just impossible to stay caught up. I think next year we'll actually meet at Smitty's, walk back and sort of loop from the beginning to take care of some of the earlier issues.
When we reached Manunka Chunk Tunnel, I went with the group through, and Tea Biscuit and others went over the top. Like has happened countless other times, people went the wrong way and ended up on the wrong side of the railroad cut, and had to either carefully climb down or turn back.
Dan fell on his face in the tunnel, and had this muddy splotch on his face that made him resemble a swamp creature of some sort. Dan was a great sport about it, even though he fried his iphone, and said it was worth it. He constantly makes quite funny jokes about just about everything with a cleverness that's unmatched.
We took a break at Catherine's Run for the groups to re converge, then started getting everyone across to the Beaver Brook WMA fields. I had gone out the night before with Jillane to scout out exactly how I wanted to bring everyone through this time, and found the absolute best route, which worked perfectly. I even cut some of it back ahead of time.
We wandered through the fields in a route similar to what we'd done the previous year, and then came out at the top of Beaver Brook WMA with the nice overlook where we had a moment of silence for the friends we'd lost, the most recent of which was our good friend "Connecticut Joe" Bukowski who succumbed to Cancer the previous year.
From this point, we descended through the openings in fields, through them and then into the woods on an access lane that closely parallels the Ledge Road quarry. We took in one view, and made our way to Sarepta Road where we descended to the old Warren Railroad bed yet again, and followed it south past Hope Crossing.
When we reached Bridgeville, a few opted to walk 519 from the station to Rt 46 to reach Hot Dog Johnny's, while most of us dashed across the sand quarry and followed the parallel ATV trails to the right of way. We soon reached Johnny's and descended for an extended lunch break. Susie joined us in the middle of the quarry, and those who didn't know her thought someone was just out walking her dog and decided to join us. Well, why not, wouldn't you?
In the future, I plan to call the place ahead of time to begin making orders for people. This will alleviate even more issues. I had four hot dogs I think, and we had a nice break. We were joined at Johnny's by Pete Beck and his girlfriend, as well as Captain Soup. Shortly after, DJ Ray, Amanda P, and Herbig left us due to prior obligations elsewhere.
I was happy my mom was doing so well with the hike. About time she came out since I'd only pestered her about it for 16 years!
We continued from here back to the rail bed and headed east into Buttsville along the back streets and clear right of way parallel with the cemetery. We crossed Rt 46 at the intersection with 31 without much problem, and then climbed to the Pequest Viaduct in Pequest WMA. The next section was quite nice following the shelf above the river, and then into the Pequest Cut. Ric, Jaque, and I climbed a crazy slope in the middle of the cut much in the way the Shrub of Might was in the past. We may have to make a tradition out of that one!
We soon crossed Pequest Road and picked up the paved trail section headed north into Oxford. People were still doing well, but a lot of them were feeling it. I assured those who had their cars in Oxford that there wasn't much distance left to go.
We took one more break before the next group of cut outs left, at the old Oxford station platform. We moved on from here to the liquor store in town, where we split the group again. Those going through Oxford Tunnel followed me, while the others followed the highway. Dan, Ric, Lyz, and Oscar went on through. It's always a crazy time getting through the tunnel muck and over the cave in, but we handled it well.
On the other side, some of the group opted to continue ahead just minutes before we got out of the tunnel. We continued on to catch back up with them, which doesn't usually happen.
When we reached Jackson Valley Road, Ron Lozowski joined us for the remainder of the trip. Pete and his girlfriend cut out to walk back to the Warren Hills High School in this area, where they parked a car.
It was rough getting through the next section of the rail bed in Washington Township where it was getting pretty flooded out, but we managed. The guy that lives next to the high school didn't bother to come out and yell at us this time either. We continued on past the high school and into the cut before reaching the former Warren Lumber area, and then on to the active spur line tracks.
It didn't take long before we reached Dicola's Pizza. I called them ahead of time to tell them I was bringing in an army. We got there shortly ahead, and were joined by Major Tom. He walked the rest of the way back with us from there after we ate.
While we were hanging out eating, many went back to handle car shuttles, which I was thankful for. It would've been tough if anyone was left out. The group was very helpful with this. There were only a handful of us to walk back to Port Colden from the place.
Where I used to live, we parked cars and headed out to my mom and Mark's back field where we had a camp fire party just like we used to, with singing and drinking. I was pretty tired, and Michele's husband Scott brought me a bottle of Jamison. I remember drinking my peppermint schnapps as well as the jamison, one in each hand, and never really feeling sick. Apparently I fell asleep at the fire and I was dragged into my mom's house and put on the couch, which I don't remember. I wish I could have stayed awake for longer, and I hope everyone else had a good time. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning wondering how I got there. I was now sober, and headed home.

At times I silently ask myself if continuing this crazy hike year after years is really worth it. After all, hike #1 wasn't intended to be something people have done, it was showing something new. That's why we keep doing new things every week. Why do I always repeat myself.

The justification comes fast. First, we never visit the same place twice. The route has changed so much over the past 16 years. It's amazing to see how time effects a single place. Most important, everyone, newcomers and long time members of Metrotrails and the informal group that spurred it's existence get the opportunity to share in some of the craziness, to build a common frame of reference with the exciting hike that changed my life and the lives of so many of my friends who  have joined me over the years. This is still my favorite hike of all time, for too many reasons to name, and I'll never grow tired of sharing it.

Thank you again for joining, and for sticking around. There are more great things to come, I promise.