Hike #720; Phillipsburg/Easton

Hike #720; Phillipsburg Easton Area

8/20/13 Phillipsburg/Easton loop with Skyler Jermyn, Brandan Jermyn, and Taylor Kappus

Brothers reunited

The next hike would be another Phillipsburg and Easton area loop. My old buddy Skyler was still visiting from Texas, and he and Brandan used to live in Phillipsburg (as did at at one time, on Summit Avenue, the same as them), so I figured it would be nice to show them the work I'd been up to and we could explore some of the spots we'd been hitting on the night hikes as well.

I picked the two of them up, we stopped at the store, and made our way to the parking area for Marble Hill Natural Resource Area on River Road. The three of us headed up on the Warren Highlands Trail, first on the pipeline, then the old mine roadway. We then turned right on the Fulmer Mine Trail and headed to the mine itself to hang out a bit. From here, we looped back around, to Warren Highlands. I also showed them the overlook of the Little Water Gap and St. Anthony's Nose.

We headed down, then turned right down to the Delaware for a little swim, which was nice. From there we headed south along the Delaware to the giant pipe which is of course always a hit. We passed through, came out on River Road, then headed down into town toward the Free Bridge where we met Taylor.

Next, we stopped in Free Bridge Wine and Spirits, and I talked to the proprietors about hosting an event either ending or passing through there. We might end up having a Metrotrails meeting there. They were very friendly and accommodating.

We next headed across the free bridge into Phillipsburg. We went right on in to Easton Circle, always an interesting spot, and then turned left on 3rd Street. I remembered years ago going to the circle with Skyler to check out a book store, and I'd bought Cathy, my ex, an antique book on LA.

We continued right on Ferry Street and passed historic places including possibly the oldest house in Easton, then turned 4th Street and Washington Street where a path led to the former Central Railroad of NJ. I hadn't walked this section in years and figured it was time to get back to it. We started following it, and it was very nice and easy for the most part. We stayed with it all the way out under the South Easton bridge, which is awesome, but these days I can't believe we even got away with walking across it. I still would like to try it again though.

The tracks were still in for a while, but after we crossed Easton Ave they got much more difficult to follow. It was getting overgrown more than I remembered it being the last time I tried to walk it, which was with Skyler and my brother in 2002. We managed to fight through a lot of it, almost out to the next road crossing at Glendon Hill Road. We then climbed up the hill and onto the road, which became Iron Street. We followed Iron Street north and passed a small park, then turned left over some rocks and onto a path that led up to the old Lehigh Valley Railroad line next to the giant old wooden trestle which we wouldn't dare try to cross in the dark (it had gotten dark just as we left the last rail bed).

Once on this rail bed, it became easy walking because it was already under development as a trail. We continued through the new tunnel under 23rd Street, then beyond across 25th Street. When we reached Freemansburg Road we turned right briefly to Richard's Drive in where Skyler treated us to some terrific burgers.

From here, we continued on the rail bed in the dark, now paved, and across William Penn Highway next to the Wallgreens. We then crossed 25th Street once more and skirted the old Dixie Cup factory again. When we got to the Taco Bell, we went in, but I was surprised that no one wanted anything! So we actually left the Taco Bell empty handed and continued on the trail north across Northampton Street and down to Wood Ave. We crossed Wood to Lower Hackett Park, and made our way to the foot bridge over Rt 22 where we took a short break.

From here, we headed up hill on the trail to Upper Hackett Park, crossed, and then headed down hill once more toward the Bushkill Creek past the frisbee golf course. Once on that branch of the old Lehigh Valley Railroad, we followed it south to the apartment building in the old industrial site beside the creek.

The door was opened for a change, so we went in and walked through their coy pond, and messed with their exercise equipment. We hung around for a break, but then Brandan started ballistically kicking trampolines! He seemed to be in the mood for tom foolery, and I had to wrestle with him a bit. He's considerably strong, as by the next day I had extremely bruised shoulders from trying to hold him back! We took a dip in the Bushkill Creek, but Brandan was being so loud and silly that we figured we'd better get him out of here before someone calls cops. We headed down Bushkill Drive parallel with the river for a bit, then turned right and left onto the Arts Trail, which follows more of the rail bed on the other side of the industrial complexes. We continued on this as the railroad turned away, we passed the cemetery, then returned to the rail bed near the access road and Rt 22 underpass. Brandan had had quite a bit to drink and sort of blacked out, and so we would have to come back to get him at this point. Sadly, he also forgot his backpack here with his epic multi colored shorts in it. Oh well.

I recall Skyler saying it wouldn't be the same visiting home without some epically insane hike. Fortunately, we were close enough to the end at this point that there was no problem.