XploreNation

OK Slip Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in the Adirondacks. In May of 1890, a newspaper story of two river drivers who drowned while trying to break up a log jam hit the press. The two drivers, Russ Carpenter and Ed Rabiteau tried to cross the Hudson River in their separate boats to break up a log jam on the other side. The current was so swift that Carpenter’s boat capsized. Rabiteau, in his attempt to rescue his co-worker, also drowned in the raging current, while fellow workers helplessly witnessed the fatal event from the shore. As the newspaper account notes, the drowning occurred at a place between “O.K. Slip” and “P.K. Slip” on the Hudson. Thus, “O.K.” and “P.K.” were place-designations for particular slip sites for logging operations along the Hudson, like “Point A” and “Point B.” New York purchased the 2800 acres of what was called the OK Slip Falls Tract on April 23, 2013. It is located in the newly created Hudson Gorge Wilderness Area. With a trailhead located off NY 28, OK Slip Falls is now one of the most popular hiking destinations in the Adirondacks. Check out this weeks drone flyover as the pilot, Trim takes you over the top of the falls for some stellar views!

This hike takes you to the shore of the Hudson River at scenic section of the river near 200 foot high cliffs known as the Blue Ledges. The river makes a right turn here and it's filled with big boulders. Depending on the time of year, there could be a gently running river or be swollen with huge white water. There is a small sandy bank if you are looking for a swim. The 2.5-mile trail to the Ledges pass through beautiful forests and then drop steeply to the Hudson River. The trail is located in the public Forest Preserve in the Hudson Gorge Wilderness area.

Located in the portion of the state known as the Skylands, High Point is the highest elevation in the state, with a peak elevation of 1,803 feet. The closest city is Port Jervis, New York, which is northwest. Besides being the highest peak in New Jersey, High Point is also the highest peak of the Kittatinny Mountains. Three states (New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) can be seen from the summit. At the peak is the High Point Monument, a 220-foot obelisk, built as a war memorial. The Monument on High Point was built by Kuser to honor war veterans. Master mason Michael Maddaluna began construction of the 220-foot tower in 1928 and completed it in 1930. The Monument has 291 steps from the base to the highest viewing platform. The sun was shining but the wind was whipping as we made our way to the summit. Check out this weeks video to see the top New Jersey! Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/higher License code: 7OW2ZIROI4HJR9BK

Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco gained fame for its connection to the Friday the 13th horror film franchise. The camp served as the filming location for the original Friday the 13th movie (1980), where the fictional Camp Crystal Lake was portrayed. Due to its popularity among fans of the film series, the camp occasionally offers special events, tours, and overnight stays for fans to experience the filming location. While Jason Voorhees may not be around stalking counselors, Camp Crystal Lake is a real, functional summer camp. Located in the hills of Hardwick, New Jersey, Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco is a popular Boy Scouts camp that's closed to the public. We did not get to the lake but did run into an interesting character while walking in...

The Gingerbread Castle in New Jersey was a unique and whimsical attraction that stood in Hamburg, New Jersey. It was originally built as a fairy tale theme park in the early 20th century. The Gingerbread Castle was designed by a local architect named Joseph Urban and was built between 1928 and 1930. It was inspired by the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and featured a castle-like structure made of concrete and adorned with gingerbread-like decorations. The castle was intended to be a theme park where children could immerse themselves in a fantasy world. It had a distinctive fairy tale aesthetic, with colorful turrets, gingerbread trimmings, and sculptures of characters from classic stories. It offered various attractions and features. Visitors could explore the interior of the castle, which included rooms decorated with fairy tale scenes and displays. There was a throne room, a dining hall, and even a dungeon. The park also had a small zoo, a merry-go-round, and a train ride. The Castle operated as a popular tourist attraction for several decades. However, it eventually faced financial difficulties and closed its doors in the late 1970s. Over the years, there have been various attempts to restore and revive the castle, but none have been successful, and it remains closed to the public. Today, while the castle itself is not accessible to the public, efforts have been made to preserve its memory and legacy. The property has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and there have been discussions about potential future restoration or adaptive reuse projects to ensure the preservation of this iconic New Jersey landmark.

Washington Crossing Historic Park is a site located in Pennsylvania, near the Delaware River, that commemorates the historical event of George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolutionary War. The park was established in 1917 and is managed by the Washington Crossing Park Commission, which was established in 1919. The park serves to preserve and interpret the site where Washington and his troops made their daring crossing on the night of December 25, 1776. It is considered a significant turning point in the Revolutionary War, as the subsequent victory at the Battle of Trenton helped boost morale and turn the tide in favor of the American forces. The Washington Crossing Historic Village is a reconstructed colonial village that showcases buildings and structures from the late 18th century. It offers a glimpse into the daily life and activities of the Revolutionary War era. Take a walk with us to see this incredible piece of American History! Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/vens-adams/rise-of-the-hero License code: LASEF0XC87AIJCE6

Most folks are familiar with the story of the witch trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 and 1693. How about the legends told in the Mount Holly, NJ area of women being tried for witchcraft in that town in 1730? The story may stem from an article that appeared on October 22, 1730 in the Pennsylvania Gazette, which allegedly the locals began fearing the worst when their animals began acting strangely. “…the Accused had been charged with making their Neighbours Sheep dance in an uncommon Manner, and with causing Hogs to speak and sing Psalms.” Mount Holly still holds some of these tidbits of history today at sites like the Holy Holy Altar on the Mount and the nearby Witch’s Well. The Well, which is now sealed, gated, and adorned with security cameras, is located on the side of a wooded hill known as the Mount, right near a mysterious stone altar called the Holy, Holy, Holy. The altar is actually an old judgement table. You can still see where the gallows pole was where they were hung. The pole was cut down, but there is a piece remaining. There was a legend that the Jersey Devil is sealed inside a stone altar on top of a mountain. Check out this weeks stop to see where a Witch trial, and possibly the burial site of the Jersey Devil cross our path on another one our road trips!

Mighty Joe, a 25-foot-tall statue, is currently the mascot of Mighty Joe’s Gas, Grill & Deli. But before he made it to his current spot in the Pine Barrens, the massive gorilla statue was a world traveler. He was built in Spain. Originally, he stood tall over the boardwalk in Wildwood, New Jersey, and went by the names Kongo-Pongo and Magilla. For a time, he was parked at a Wildwood go-kart track as George. In the early 2000s, the gorilla went up for sale. Mighty Joe’s owner Larry Valenzano bought the deteriorating gorilla. In 1999, Valenzano lost his son, a body builder who had gone by the nickname “Mighty Joe,” to a brain tumor. Valenzano renamed the family business in his son’s honor. After they purchased the gorilla, it too was given a new name in Joe’s memory. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/albert-behar/dixieland-strut License code: DH39JFWB8YIQULMY

The New Jersey Pine Barrens stretch across more than seven counties of New Jersey. The name refers to the area's sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil. The Pinelands are mostly rural and undisturbed despite being so close to the cities of Philadelphia and New York City. The territory helps recharge the 17 trillion-gallon Kirkwood-Cohansey aquifer, which is some of the purest water in the US. In 1978, Congress passed legislation to designate 1.1 million acres of the Pine Barrens as the Pinelands National Reserve (the nation's first National Reserve) to preserve its ecology. A decade later, it was designated by the UN as an International Biosphere Reserve. The Pine Barrens is home to the legend of the Jersey Devil. The devil perportedly to have been born in 1735 to a woman named Mrs. Leeds. It was said that he was her 13th child, and, because of the unlucky number, he was cursed. Another story says that the mother gave birth to a hideous monster that attacked her and the nurses before flying up and out of the chimney and disappearing into the Barrens. The Devil is said to roam the Pine Barrens, with many people sharing accounts of the Devil during dark nights in the Pinelands.

Ebright Azimuth is the highest point in the U.S. state of Delaware and has an elevation of 448 feet above sea level. It is marked with a USGS benchmark near the town of Barkley. The only state high point with a lower elevation is Britton Hill in the state of Florida at 345 feet above sea level. The highpoint is a virtual drive-up and can be visited year-round. Ebright Azimuth is named after James and Grant Ebright, who owned the property on which the benchmark was placed. Once covered by a sidewalk, the USGS benchmark is now exposed and the sidewalk cut around it. The actual Delaware historical marker is near the site but is on private property underneath a home. It was through the efforts of Doreen Kupchick, who lives across the street and keeps a log book, that the benchmark was brought to light.

Valley Forge is the encampment site of the Continental Army during the winter of 1777-1778. The park features 3,500 acres of monuments including Washington’s Headquarters (a stone house on the Schuylkill River which he occupied 1777 to 1778), the early-20th-century National Memorial Arch and the Muhlenberg Brigade’s recreated log-cabin barracks. Originally Valley Forge State Park, it became a national historical park in 1976. During the winter of it's use, shortages of food, lack of proper hygiene, sanitation, and medical knowledge of the time, over 2,000 soldiers perished. From scurvy to smallpox, dysentery, and other nasty diseases, one out of every six soldiers that marched into Valley Forge in December did not march back out in June. Come along on a tour into the night as we walk the grounds of Washingtons Headquarters and the National Memorial Arch.

Known officially as the Bridgeton Boulder Field, Ringing Rocks County Park is one of the strangest places in Pennsylvania. It's known for the unusual sound that many of the rocks make when hit by a hammer. No one really knows why the rocks make the sound when hit but in 1965, a group of scientists tested the rocks. After conducting numerous tests, they found that all the rocks do ring but often do so at tones lower than the human ear can perceive. Furthermore, the exact mechanism by which they ring still remains elusive. In 1890, J.J. Ott gave a concert for the Buckwampum Historical Society. What made the concert so interesting wasn’t the music being played but the instrument he was playing. The instrument was made of stones that made “clear, bell-like tones” when struck by a hammer. Ott procured the musical rocks from a nearby boulder field in Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania, known today as Ringing Rocks Park! If you would like to hear what we are talking about, watch this weeks episode and listen for yourself!

Columcille Megalith Park is a privately owned park which is open to the public. Located in Bangor, Pennsylvania, the spectacle was inspired by the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scotland and its ancient Celtic stones. The park has been arranged with rows, piles, rings, and structures made of giant standing rocks. Its owners describe it as a "sacred space for quiet meditation, protected under conservation easement with the Heritage Conservancy." The park’s founders began constructing the chapel and the landscapes in 1978. It now holds over 80 pieces of stone art with names like Thor’s Gate and Glen of the Temple. The owners claim that the stones hold healing powers. Follow us on a walkthrough of this whimsical place and see for yourself the lure of Columcille! Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/kevin-macleod/celtic-impulse License code: CK6VPDFBEPDSTHF3

Sitting within the most densely populated area of the US is the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. It's where you can view incredible scenery along 40 miles of the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi. A water gap is a gap that flowing water has carved through a mountain range or mountain ridge and that still carries water today. This one is a dramatic mountain pass where the river cuts between Blue Mountain and Kittatinny Mountain. The national recreation area was established in 1965 just ahead of a dam project which would have flooded a huge area of the Water Gap. Over 16,000 people were displaced when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers acquired land for the reservoir. The controversial dam was canceled in 1978 and the land transferred to the recreation area. Recreation within the park include hiking, rock climbing, swimming, fishing, hunting, camping, cycling, cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. The miles of hiking trails include a section of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Join us this week as we make our way through this amazing place!

Archbald Pothole State Park is a 149-acre state park in Archbald, Pennsylvania. This glacial pothole is a geological wonder: At 38 feet deep and 42 feet by 24 feet wide at its largest diameter it is the largest glacier-formed pothole on the planet. It could hold up to 140,000 gallons of liquid and would take 35 firetruck tankers to fill to the top. It has drawn tourists since just after it was discovered in 1884. The pothole is a renowned tourist attraction. Archbald Pothole was turned over to public ownership in 1914, when the widow of Colonel Hackley deeded 1-acre surrounding the pothole to the Lackawanna Historical Society. Archbald Pothole was a county park until 1961 when the property was transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Archbald Pothole State Park was formally opened in 1964.

Eunice Welsh's Mausoleum is a haunted crypt located in West Edmeston Cemetery located on Route 8 in New York between Unadilla and Bridgewater. The crypt belongs to a woman named Eunice Welsh. Mrs. Eunice C. Welch was born in 1847. She ran a farm with her boys and was known to be a very “sickly old woman.” She passed away in 1922. The “crypt” that many believe to be her mausoleum and tomb used to hold bodies during winter months until they could be properly buried. There are reports that her former house burned down after her death which added to the legend. If you knock on the door, you will hear a rustling sound from inside and will have your knock returned!

Crane mountain is in the southern Adirondacks. There are over five miles of marked hiking trails on the 3254-foot mountain. There is an elevation gain of over 1300 feet. The shortest route to the summit is about 1.4 miles with an ascent of about 1150 feet. The more direct route to the summit has a short ladder as well as a long ladder (about 30 feet long) near the top which avoids a short scramble on a rocky pitch and the second, longer ladder could make those acrophobic hikers hesitant to climb. All the sides you can see or get to are very steep. Not only are there incredible views from the summit, but there is also a very beautiful pond on its shoulder. The area around the pond is a popular camping area. There is also a natural stone bridge over Putnam Brook. There are well over 100 technical rock-climbing routes on Crane Mountain. Most of them are under 100', single pitch lines between 5.5 and 5.10. We used this hike to train for climbing Mt. Whitney in California as it has many differing environments to work through. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/the-anthem License code: PQJXYWCZLCSNGZRY

An Adirondack Hermit's Hideout? A hideout for the Kanontsistontie (Iroquois flying head)? There are many mysteries about this cave. No one knows how it was even formed! Since the early days, many people have taken time to research the history of the Kunjamuk Cave, unfortunately coming up with little to no solid information on this spot. It's not known if the cave is natural or man-made, and that has been the main question stumping visitors for years. Rumor has it, the well-known hermit of New York, 'French Louis' Seymour supposedly stayed inside of Kunjamuk Cave several times. There are stories of Kanontsistontie, which is an Iroquois legend that focuses on a giant flying head that made area caves their hiding spots! Follow us this week into the depths of this cave itself for a quick look around in a mysterious spot in the Adirondacks!

Located off of Uncas Road, in the Pigeon Lake Wilderness, this is a short hike to a floating boardwalk, and observation deck. There is only parking for three vehicles. Ferd's Bog is birding hotspot! Designated an "Important Bird Area" by the National Audubon Society, Ferd's Bog is home to boreal birds that are rare in New York State. It's named for Ferdinand LaFrance, who was an avid 1970's birder. He discovered a rare woodpecker in the area that now graces his name. Tamaracks, pitcher plants and many other bog plants are found here. A plastic boardwalk was used since it won't leak toxins as treated wood can. Come along this week to see what can be seen from the end of that boardwalk! Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/swoop/blue-sea License code: 6CVUQ1GB9ZCWSJUG

Helldiver Pond trail takes a gravel path for .2 miles to a remote and beautiful kettle pond in the Moose River Plains. This area is known for moose sightings. The trail is flat for the entire distance, and in the blink of an eye, you are standing by a scenic shoreline surrounded by a boreal forest. Take a quick hike in to see if Trim can call in a moose with his patented 'call'!

This hiking challenge is based in the Inlet/Old Forge area of the Adirondacks and is a fun and rewarding adventure to 3 peaks suitable for young hikers (and those looking for easier hikes): Bald Mountain (the most popular mountain in the area and home to a firetower), Rocky Mountain (a short, steep climb to a fantastic panorama of 4th lake), and Black Bear Mountain (a peak that gives one the feeling of isolation and a climb including a scramble up a cliff band). These 3 peaks are within 10 minutes of driving from each other and have maintained trails to the summits. Once you've climbed them, you are eligible to receive your Fulton Chain Trifecta hiking patch! Follow us on the 1st day of this challenge as we try to get our winter patch! Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/adi-goldstein/i-dont-need-your-love License code: NLDEXNQKJB4UCGQL

You want a cool, artsy, off the beaten path adventure? It can be found at Secret Caverns! Founded by local civil engineer Roger Mallery, the caverns have been visited by many of America's roadside traveler, spelunkers and adventurers since its discovery by some cows in 1928. It's not super touristy which allows for a chill tour of the cave. The caverns maintain a year-round temperature of 50 degrees F. Cameras, pictures, and touching of the formations is allowed, as is not the case with most other show caves in the US. The guided tour is a 45 minute to 1-hour walk through an amazing show of Mother Nature's handiwork. The highlight of the cave has to be the world famous 100 ft underground waterfall...you heard right, an underground waterfall! Follow along this week to see for yourself on Xplorenation in Secret Caverns! Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ambient-boy/clear-skies License code: 0T0WOSIIQNRR4JU7

Lower Wolf Jaw is either the first or the last 46er you hit along the Great Range, depending on your hiking route. At 4175 feet, it is the13th highest peak in the Adirondacks. The summit is tree covered, however there are a few side spots with nice views. The peak or better yet, the pair of peaks (Lower & Upper Wolf Jaw) were named in sometime between 1869-72 when Alexander Wyant (a well-known artist of the time), painted the peaks and noted that the col between the two peaks looked like a huge pair of Wolf Jaws. Come along this week and meet our buddy, Bird, and watch some of the antics as we try to get to the top of LWJ during the winter!

Dry Tortugas National Park is located in the Gulf of Mexico, 70 miles west of Key West, Florida. It's made up of 7 islands. It gets its name from the lack of water and abundant sea turtles (tortuga is turtle in Spanish). Dry Tortuga is the most remote National Park in the lower 48 states. Most visitors arrive in Dry Tortugas National Park by either boat or seaplane from Key West. There are no road connections to Dry Tortugas, and cars cannot access the islands. The archipelago's coral reefs are the least disturbed of the Florida Keys reefs. The park is noted for abundant sea life, tropical bird breeding grounds, colorful coral reefs, and legends of shipwrecks and sunken treasures. The park's centerpiece is Fort Jefferson, a massive coastal fortress. Fort Jefferson is the largest brick masonry structure in the Western Hemisphere and is composed of more than 16 million bricks. During the Civil War, the fort was used as a prison. Dry Tortugas National Park is part of the Everglades & Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve, established by UNESCO in 1976 under its Man and the Biosphere Programme. We were completely blown away by the beauty of this place! Spent most of our day snorkeling but the Fort is definitely worth the couple hours to tour!

The Everglades National Park is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States and the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River. Around one million people visit the park each year. Everglades is the third-largest national park in the lower 48 after Death Valley and Yellowstone. UNESCO declared the Everglades & Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve in 1976 and listed the park as a World Heritage Site in 1979, and the Ramsar Convention included the park on its list of Wetlands of International Importance in 1987. Everglades is one of only three locations in the world to appear on all three lists. It once stretched across a swath of wetlands from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay but by the mid-1900s nearly half of the area had been drained to make way for farms and urban development. The park was established in 1947, after decades of activism, to preserve a treasured 1.5 million acres of the ecosystem. You may be surprised to learn that the most likely place to see a bigfoot, outside of the Pacific Northwest, is in the Florida Everglades. The region around the tiny town of Ochopee is particularly favored by smelly, hairy creatures that are six to seven feet tall and 350 to 450 pounds, and it is here that the the world's only Skunk Ape Research Headquarters is located. The Skunk Ape earns its name for its unusual odor, which some say is the smell of rotting garbage, methane or skunks. Researchers attribute the mammal’s odor to its natural habitat of alligator dens “filled with swamp gas and animal cadavers,” while others maintain that the smell is a result of their lack of bathing. Whatever the reason for the smell, all Skunk Ape sightings have made reference to their distinct scent. Follow Trim and Head this week as we paddle the Turner River Canoe Trail through gator country and search of alligators and skunk apes in the Florida Everglades! Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/dark-matters/there-must-be-chaos-within-you-to-give-birth-to-a-dancing-star-aboutface License code: JCLFXXLXROYHSNNJ