Hike #704; Belvidere Area Loop

 Hike #704; Belvidere Area Loop

6/14/13 Warren County Belvidere Rail Loop with Michele Valerio, Steve Levy, Carol Van Giezen, Dan Lurie, and Sue Olivar

The group in the "I Hate Fun" house

Our next hike would be a sort of repeat of a night hike I'd done the year before, the Belvidere area Abandoned railroad loop. I never really get tired of this one, and it brings back a lot of memories from hiking it so many times and seeing it change so much.

We met near my house in Townsbury and then headed west to the former Pequest Furnace site for the loop.

We walked from there across the former Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad bridge, then turned left immediately along the ATV path that led around some of the masonry ruins of the furnace operation, then up to the old furnace railroad right of way. This led us on to the old Lackawanna/Warren Railroad right of way which we began following northbound. Steve and I walked together and I told him about some of the history.

Walking this section justified to me that even though I've done it before, it's sort of my duty to do that over and over again. I never really get tired of it, and unlike so many other new hikes it's really quite relaxing for me. I don't have to worry about finding any particular turn or when we get to a certain point because I know the right of way better than anyone alive. We walked on out of Pequest WMA and into Buttsville, then across Green Pond Road.

The first really substantial difference in the right of way was just beyond that point, where the Mud Pond was. Back in 1997, we used to throw big rocks and bricks onto the right of way, which was right next to the road, which had somehow turned into this giant pit of light brown mud. It was like a quick sand. We would watch in amazement at how the rock would slowly disappear into the mud. We continued doing this every time I went by, both on long full day  hikes and on short little hikes, until late 2000 I believe it was. At that time, the pond was becoming more solid. It was still soft under a strange surface, where it could hold our weight, but we could take a stick six foot long or longer and push it all the way down until it was out of sight.

The mud pond, which at one time literally was mucky water had turned in a few years into a solid mess of brambles. Ailanthus trees began growing in it as it got more solid. The roots of this and a small understory certainly gave the mud pond more holding power until it was nothing of a pond at all.

This time, we arrived to find the entire thing dug out over 15 feet deep, with standing water at the bottom. We could see the color textures in the dug out dirt from railroad cinder down to beige and brown colored earth. There were signs nearby that read that it was an environmental investigation. Apparently there was dumping going on there for some time. I still have no clue why a former leveled railroad bed could turn into such a deep pit of mud. Maybe one day we'll know.

We continued on the rail bed away from the roads, then had to turn up hill and follow an ATV path up to the sand quarry area. We dashed across the quarry as quickly as we could because the people were still working below, though they must have been near the end of their shift. We climbed high dirt mounds and then descended to the rail bed, which remained intact from beyond the quarry on to Rt 519. We passed the Bridgeville Station and then headed through the part owned by Jenny Jump SP.

This section went by pretty quickly. We made our way to Beaver Brook Wildlife Management Area and I took a dip in Catherine's Run. The waterfall there was running very nicely. We didn't go through the tunnel this time because none of the group really wanted to, so we went up over the mountain. I guess it was good because when I do the anniversary hike there will be more people who know how to do it.

Once on the other side, we had a break, then got on the old Belvidere and Delaware Railroad and began following it south.

It had been a while since I walked this section. It made me reminisce about doing this section with the really small groups back in the old days. I thought of my brother Tea Biscuit, and my late friend Ron Short who used to go through this area with me. Sometimes, when stupid drama occurs within the group, I long for days that are simple like those were. I still have them from time to time, but I also want to have the interesting big groups too.

I text messaged my brother as we reached Rt 46 and passed the Roche chemical property boundary where we used to walk through. I told him we should try to wander through there one day. I think that would be really fun, if just he and I dashed across that property like we did over 13 years before. Some of the people coming out these days could do it, and would run if we needed to, but most groups have at least one straggler who would rather get in trouble than run off.

Things really aren't that much different than they ever were...but the level of adventure isn't always there like I want it to be, and too often I have people show up unprepared, or expecting that a "hike" is going to be something entirely different than the kind of thing that I run (I was not to know that my wishes would come true with my hike the following Sunday).

We continued to do a road walk on in to Belvidere where we were joined by Dan and Sue. We passed by my old friend Darien Payran, who I worked at Taylor Rental with years ago, sitting in the middle of town. Always nice to see a familiar face and talk a bit. It reminded me too of days behind me, and how I truly am better off now than I was then, with a great job, beautiful young girlfriend, pretty comfortable living, great friends, strong hiking group, and respect of people I don't even know. My life is pretty good. When I worked with Darien I was at Taylor Rental, working between 50 and 60  hours a week doing oil changes and greasing, then going to Wal Mart for an additional 12 hours at night for next to no money and falling deeper in debt all the time. I felt sickly, and like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. I lived every day of my life for Sundays.

I started feeling better as things came into perspective.

We headed up to Skoogy's Deli for sandwiches. The familiarity was wonderful. Again, just because I could relax. I could share these places that were new to everyone else with greater insight, and just enjoy the walk, and the subtle changes around each turn.

The Country Gate Theater had nothing going on at this time. It was an off night for rehearsals I guess. Maybe one day I'll get back and do a show there again. I was hoping to stop in and say hello to Bill or Gina, but no one was around.

I took everyone down to my grandfather's vacant lot where the old creamery stood, and we passed through the woods like we had in the past. The old trail that connected the former rail yard with the grass lot through the woods was now gone, grown in completely, with the entrance blocked by branches dumped by neighbors.

We reached the open lot by the active tracks and began following them to the south. We continued to the south junction of the Lehigh and Hudson River Railroad and began following that east. Some of the right of way was cleared off near to the yards, which was different than past times I'd walked it. We continued on through to where the old station was, and then into the woods and over the bridge across the Pophandusing Brook. The ties were removed from either end, apparently to keep ATVs off.

We then headed out across the age restricted community out of town. The trees planted on the path that roughly followed the rail bed have grown to the point where they now supply some shade. So much different than when I first walked it, surrounded by fields.

We headed across the road and onto the right of way east, which led into vast open fields as usual. Nothing much has changed here. It's always so pleasant to walk, especially at night. We made our way out to Bridgeville and headed out on Rt 519 to Titman Ave. We were going to wade across and get on the rail bed on the other side again, but the river was high and rushing something fierce, so we opted instead to follow Rt 46 parallel. We got back on the rail bed in Buttsville, and headed to the end. It was very dark by this time and I smashed my face into a juniper, which gave me a scrape on my cheek, and my eye hurt. Good thing I wasn't wearing my contacts.

It didn't take long before we got back to the cars and were on our way.

I will certainly have to revisit this hike again in the near future. It really is worth doing over and over. It really eases my mind.