Lots of Upcoming Greatness!

Hey everybody!
Just got back from an amazing backpack from Lancaster to Chesapeake Bay and ready for some more stuff!
The schedule is pretty full, so I'll give a brief run down first, then put more details:
Tues 5/14: Montly Metrotrails Meeting at VP Matt's house. This follows the Warren County Board of Recreation meeting in Oxford at 5. Matt and I may arrive slightly late for the meeting as a result.
Wednesday 5/15: Night hike and Star Trek Into Darkness Midnight Screening.
Sat 5/18: Warren Co Natural Resource Day and Short Hike at White Lake
Sun 5/19: Allamuchy-Mt Olive Hike

If you'd like to attend the Metrotrails meeting, contact me at (908) 343 8374, since it's short notice.

For the Wednesday night hike:
Back in 2009, when the last Star Trek film came out, we did a night hike from the movie, and I've been saying we'll do one again for the next movie. That time is NOW!
Even better, we'll try to get in on the midnight screening at Washington Theater!
This time, rather than hiking after, we'll hike TO the movie and only minimal distance after, maybe stop in Felix's Tavern or something. Who knows.
The hike I've put together will take us directly to the movie along some abandoned rail lines and such, to arrive by midnight when the screening takes place! We'll be meeting at 3:45 pm at the Port Colden Mall in Washington, then shuttle to our beginning point. We'll get probably all but the last two miles in prior to the movie. More great news, this screening will cost only $5!!!
The Washington Theater is a great local business. Back in High School, I was a member of START (Save The Area's Regional Theater). It would have been demolished in favor of a drive through CVS. It's an historic theater, and it's hoped that it will be restored to it's former grandeur one day. Still, it's great to patronize such places.
Hope many of you can join!
For this, we'll meet at Port Colden Mall at 404 East Washington Avenue, Washington NJ at 3:45 pm, just under a mile on Rt 57 east of where Rts 31 and 57 cross in Washington.

Saturday Natural Resource Day at White Lake:

• Join me for a four mile hike to kick off Warren County's Natural Resource Day at White Lake Natural Resource Area!
  We'll meet at the White Lake Parking lot at 8:45, along Rt 521, Stillwater Road, just northeast of Blairstown. From the traffic light on Rt 94, head on 521 north. It's a weird turn, so be wary of it. GPS often sends people the wrong place. There are three Stillwater Roads in very close proximity. DO NOT TRUST YOUR GPS! From Blairstown, it's only a few miles up.
  On the right side of the road are white fences and a parking lot, directly across the street from the historic stone Vass Farmhouse. Park at the lot.
  The hike will include Ridge and Valley Trail, and the somewhat new Blue and Red trails which I helped to develop. We will pass rock outcroppings, historic Marl Works ruins, lime kilns, and the remains of a forgotten girl scout camp. Short road walk involved to close the loop in.
  Following the hike, I will be manning a table with Matt Davis to answer all of your local trail questions! More activities follow as part of the event including:
  -Visit display tables – 10am to 4pm
  -Rent Free Kayaks – 10am to 4pm
  -Tour Vass House & Barn – 10am to 4pm
  -Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee – Group Ride/Hike 10am (onsite & offsite)
  RV Ridge and Valley Conservancy Trail Blazing – 1pm offsite
  -Audubon Hike with Tom Hollowell – 1:30pm (to about 2:30pm) onsite
  -FrelinghuysenForestPreserve Hike – 2:30pm (meet onsite; hike offsite)
  Feel free to contact me for more info! M'ke 908 343 8374
  
  AND FOR THE REGULAR SUNDAY HIKE:
  
  Join us for an amazing, diverse hike between the village of Allamuchy, and Budd Lake NJ!
  We will take a 15 mile route through the highlands of Allamuchy Mountain State Park, past historic old farms, Allamuchy Pond, and visit Rutherford Hall (Note that this hike is almost COMPLETELY different than my recent Allamuchy Allegory hike).
  We'll head through the historic Deer Park section of Allamuchy Mountain State Park, and continue on a lovely route on and off trail out to the former switch back junkyard site. We'll descend to the Morris Canal and Highlands Trail, then follow their historic route along the Musconetcong River to Waterloo Village.
  We won't follow the route everyone knows, we'll visit some odd spots in between! From here, we'll head to the Sussex Branch Trail, then onto a new loop that makes use of both the Morris Canal and the old Sussex Branch, and visit the former ice house complex that once existed at Waterloo.
  From here, we continue to old Waterloo Valley Road and make use of an old woods road to ascend Mount Olive, and visit the Budd Lake Fire Tower. We'll finish just beyond this point and have dinner somewhere nearby!
  Due to limited parking at the beginning point, we will be meeting at a nearby Dunkin Donuts and shuttling cars to the beginning based on number of participants attending.
  NOTE: There WILL be media present, so anyone who does not wish to be photographed, etc. should sit this one out. Everyone will be asked to sign a release for the official activity.
  Also, this hike has some rugged and/or rocky sections, so be prepared for sometimes difficult terrain. Some off trail.
  There are NO restrooms along the entire course of this hike. No public trans available to this area on Sundays.
  We are meeting at Dunkin Donuts in Budd Lake; 100 U.S. 46 #4, Budd Lake, NJ 07828. This is not the end point, but we will shuttle cars to that point based on number of people who show up. 
   
  I have plenty more surprises in store for these and other events...if you have any questions call or text me at 908 343 8374
  M'ke