Sunday 6/2: Another Allamuchy Vicinity Hike!

Hey all!
This Sunday will be yet another Allamuchy/Mt Olive area hike. I usually don't do so many in the same area, but this time was an exception due to events going on...

Join us for an awesome hike in the areas of Byram Township, Stanhope, Netcong, Stephens State Park, and Allamuchy Mountain, a completely different route than other recent ones!
Meet at Netcong Train Station along Rt 46, near the Shop Rite. The station is rather obvious by the traffic light along Rt 46 west of the circle, but east of ITC.
The hike will be a point to point, about 16 miles, between Hackettstown and several points in Stephens State Park and Allamuchy Mountain, and end in Netcong/Stanhope where we have the opportunity to attend a great Weird NJ event by my friend Mark Moran, co-owner of Weird US!
Mark's band, Poor Man's Opera is headlining evening entertainment at the Stanhope House. $10 admission to the event comes with a free issue of the new issue of Weird NJ, which costs $5 in stores anyway! For those who do not wish to hang out at Stanhope House, it's only a short distance back to Netcong station.
The hike will lead from Hackettstown through two park properties. We will then wade across the Musconetcong River. Be sure to have a change of shoes or something you don't mind getting wet! The hike will also include some off trail sections so be prepared for some bushwhacking. Once we reach the Highlands Trail in Stephens State Park, we'll continue up hill on some of the newer trails that lead along the Mt. Olive side eastbound. We'll then descend to old Waterloo Valley Road and head to the quarry area. We'll follow old quarry roads now in state park ownership, then get on the Morris Canal briefly to Waterloo Village. We'll cut away in town and take the Highlands Trail and other side trails to the outstanding overlook of the Waterloo Valley, a must see!
From here, we continue on the Highlands Trail to the Ranger Loop Trail. We'll follow most of this around the rolling terrain of eastern Allamuchy Mountain, then descend to the Sussex Branch Trail south. We'll follow then the predecessor to Continental Drive, and if it's hot take a dip in the Musconetcong. This will lead us to the rail bed once more, then the road, then we'll turn off and get on the most intact and lovely section of the Morris Canal Greenway anywhere in NJ. This will lead us to old Inclined Plane #2 West, just down the street from the Stanhope House.
This promises to be an exciting and fantastic hike. The most challenging part will be the very beginning. The only way to avoid walking through the water is by taking parallel roads to Stephens State Park. We can discuss that option as the hike nears.

We have a lot of good things going on, but different things get in the way. Such is life.
Unfortunately, Jillane and I have to move from our home in Great Meadows only a year after moving in. Nothing personal, our landlord needs the house because of a family issue. We think we may have found a good place, but it's expensive. If anyone knows of any place good for rent in Warren County, please let me know. If nothing better comes up, we will be living at an expensive but nice house overlooking Mountain Lake.
 I need to stay in NJ in order to keep my job, and I prefer to stay in Warren County to continue my involvement in Board of Recreation. Hopefully I'll be able to buy a good home within the next couple of years within the county. I can be reached at 908 343 8374

I'm also looking at doing in June the next in the Pocono Rim series north of West Milford. We are very close to connecting that through with Matamoras and Port Jervis in a couple of hikes! The last couple might be the most difficult ones yet!
Near the end of the month, we will do a loop around Atlantic City, which should be really neat. Some swimming and such, and no car shuttles because we'll use a train. Almost loop.

In other news, we had Steve Rogers, Director of Driving Jersey on PBS out to film with us again two weeks ago for hike #700! I did not announce this publicly because I didn't want people to show up just so they could be on TV, but it went very well and Steve says the episode should air on PBS in September!
 For more, visit www.drivingjersey.com

More good things are coming up! Contact me if you need further details!

M'ke