Hike #117
Scouting the route the Highlands Trail would take in the future along Bear Pond
Hike 117
11/30/3
For this next hike, I had something special planned. I had opened a dialogue with Robert
Moss, who was President of the Highlands Trail project, and then supervisor of trail work
in NJ after recieving an update paper from a book that Mr. Moss had created on the trail.
When I recieved the paper, I found Bob Moss’s phone number, and decided to give him a
call regarding new trail sections. Bob told me of his plans for trail developement, new
sections he had been working on, and where the trail was proposed to go. After speaking
with him a few times, I knew I wanted to lead a hike on the section of it in Sussex County.
Fish dumped on Allamuchy Mountain
Fish dumped on Allamuchy Mountain
Fish on Allamuchy Mt.
Highlands Trail heading up Allamuchy Mt.
I made plans for the hike, and spoke with Bob once more before the planned hike was to
take place, and to my surprise, he offered to come along and show us the sections
personally. I was ecstatic! It was like meeting a celebrity to me, hiking with the man
behind the Highlands Trail! Tea Biscuit, as well as Rich Pace both decided to come. I also
decided to dress up again for this one, with a sports jacket and tie, almost poking fun at
myself and my being starstruck over hiking with Bob Moss.
Highlands Trail on the way up Allamuchy Mountain
We planned to leave Tea Biscuit’s car on Rt 181, Bob’s car at Roland May Eve’s
Mountain Inlet Sanctuary on Lake Hopatcong’s northern side, and then car shuttle back to
Waterloo where we would start walking.
We began at the same place we began the Morris Canal hike from Waterloo, as the
Highlands Trail is co-aligned with the canal as far as Saxton Falls area. The trail took us
across the road into an open area, and then began ascending the east side of Allamuchy
Mountain. There was a giant pile of fish heads just off the trail to the right, which Bob was
upset about. I believe he reported it after the hike, as some restaurant must have been
using it as a dump for some time.
View from Allamuchy Mt.
View from Allamuchy Mountain
Waterloo Valley from Allamuchy Mt. and Highlands Trail
Highlands Trail view on Allamuchy Mt.
The ascent was interesting, switching back and forth, at one point along a nice cliff on it’s
way to a beautiful view over the Waterloo Valley and the Musconetcong River. The
International Trade Center and quarry lands were also in view. While at the view, Tea
Biscuit used his cell phone to contact James Delotto. I had met him recently when I was
having my picture taken for the Family’s Pizza website, as I had the record for eating a
large pie in the least amount of time (14 minutes, 30 seconds). Jim Delotto was friends
with Steve, the owner, since years before when he helped Steve choose the best pizza
sauce at Shop Rite. He and I became immediate friends, and he had recently been
diagnosed with Diabetes, and was very interested in joining hikes.
Allamuchy Mt. view
I'm on Tea Biscuit's cell phone trying to reach Delotto who joined a bit late
Allamuchy Mt. view
Allamuchy Mt. view
Allamuchy Mt. view
<Photo 22>
View from Allamuchy Mt.
Allamuchy Mt.
Allamuchy Mt. view
<Photo 26>
Allamuchy Mt. view
Highlands Trail, Allamuchy Mt.
Highlands Trail, Allamuchy Mt.
<Photo 30>
Highlands Trail, Allamuchy Mt.
Highlands Trail, eastern Allamuchy Mountain State Park
Falls along the Highlands Trail and Sussex Branch
<Photo 34>
HT crossing a creek in Allamuchy Mt. State Park
Crossing a creek on the Highlands Trail, Allamuchy Mt.
Creek crossing, Allamuchy Mt.
Cedar on a hill in Allamuchy Mt. State Park
I spoke with him on the phone, giving him directions on where he could meet us, at the
Byram Shop Rite where we would be shortly.
The trail took us down and up a few times from the viewpoint over interesting rocky
terrain. Many different trails joined and departed from left and right as we made our way
gradually down to the Sussex Railroad right of way. The Highlands Trail took us along a
piece of the earlier Sussex Mine Railroad right of way, then across the later right of way
near a small waterfall, then across the creek. We had to cross on a log as the water was
quite high. The trail on the other side led us past a few old mine pits, then up a hill with
cedards on it before making a descent toward Byram. Along the way, Bob showed us
different aspects of trail work, and the many large logs he and trail crews had cut through.
We were amazed that they used no power equipment in all their efforts. There were many
seriously wide logs which were cut through simply with a hatchet. We also passed some
good sized glacial erratics on our way.
The trail led us across one more stream, then out to a cul de sac. We followed a few short
connecting roads out to the Byram Shop Rite where we met Delotto. He was kind enough
to give us some fruit immediately. We wandered through the Shop Rite a bit, then headed
over to McDonalds for a bigger lunch.
Wild West City along the Highlands Trail route
Highlands Trail near Mansfield Drive and Byram Central school
Lackawanna Cutoff near Lake Lackawanna
Lackawanna Cutoff near Lake Lackawanna
Lake Lackawanna from the Cutoff
Spring along Lackawanna Cutoff
View from South Sparta Mountain (?) on the old Highlands Trail route
View on the old Highlands Trail of Lake Lackawanna
Lake Lackawanna view
Lake Lackawanna view
Lackawanna Cutoff view
Lake Lackawanna view
Lake Lackawanna view
Lackawanna Cutoff from above
View along the old Highlands Trail route
View along the old Highlands Trail route
View along the old Highlands Trail route
Old Highlands Trail route
View from South Sparta Mountain, old Highlands Trail route
Bear Pond scouting for the Highlands Trail
Scouting for the Highlands Trail near Bear Pond
Highlands Trail scouting near Bear Pond
Highlands Trail, Roland May Eve's Mt. Inlet Sanctuary
Highlands Trail, Roland May Eve's Mt. Inlet Sanctuary
Sunset
Sunset
Sunset
Highlands Trail, Roland May Eve's Mt. Inlet Sanctuary
End of the hike, Highlands Trail, Roland May Eve's Mt. Inlet Sanctuary
After eating, we had to walk along Lackawanna Drive passing Wild West City theme
park and a Tilcon Quarry area before heading into a school area on Mansfield Drive where
we headed into the woods again via an old road.
There were no blazes on this section yet, but the route was obvious on the road, except
for one fork which took us left into deeper woods. The HT broke off of this road onto a
footpath which we would have surely missed had Bob not been with us. The trail took us
through rolling woodlands soon paralleling the Lackawanna Cutoff to the right, towering
above us on a high fill. The trail would have led us down to Lake Drive had we continued
following blazes, however Bob planned on leading us along a new unopened portion of
the HT he had recently cleared. We walked the Lackawanna Cutoff west a short distance
to where we headed up hill onto what is probably considered a part of Sparta Mountain.
Bob led us to a beautiful viewpoint of the cutoff and Lake Lackawanna below. He then
guided us along new trail sections only blazed with orange tapes on land owned by Peter
Kellogg, a generous landowner who allowed for the trail to pass through.
We passed by another nice viewpoint before we bagan descending on the trail. It is
significant to mention that a meeting to discuss the future route of the Appalachian Trail
was held near here, making this a fitting place for a hiking trail to pass through.
Soon, we reached County Rt 605, which we had to walk southwest to another piece of
land we could walk through. We bushwhacked though the woods and across a couple
driveways until we reached Bear Pond. None of the trail was even cut, let alone blazed on
this section. From Bear Pond, we followed the perimeter of the water looking for the trail
area. We ended up overshooting the right spot, and went a bit too far. We had to turn
back and head through the woods until Bob got us back to the correct path.
We headed through some interesting swampland on our way out to Roland May Eve’s
Mountain Inlet Sanctuary. Tea Biscuit and I opted not to go the entire way back to his car
on Rt 181 as it was already getting quite dark. A nature trail led us back out to a
driveway, and the Mt Inlet parking area. I believe it was Bob who drove him back to get
his car while the rest of us waited in the parking lot for a bit. It was quite a great hike!
Photos by Mike Helbing, Rich Pace, Scott Helbing, and Jim Delotto
I used my Minolta QtSi, as well as my Canon Sure Shot Owl, Rich used his digital.
)
On the Highlands Trail, Allamuchy Mt.
Allamuchy Mt. view
Erratic on Allamuchy Mt.
Falls along the Highlands Trail and Sussex Branch
McDonalds in Byram
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