4/26/8 Highlands Trail; Otter Hole/Norving Green-Hewitt with Fred Hafale, "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Sue Bickford-Martin, Shelly Janes, "Naaron" Young, Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, Joe Tag, Jaque De Melo, Tom Petrucci, and Russ Moyer
Group shot on top of Horse Pond Mountain
Looking back this is probably the single most difficult 15 mile section of trail in NJ!
My next hike would take us along the Highlands Trail in the next section north, beginning where I'd left off northbound at Otter Hole in Norvin Green State Forest heading north to Greenwood Lake Turnpike in Hewitt NJ.
Highlands Trail near Otter Hole, Norvin Green State Forest
Highlands Trail ascending Carris Hill
Ascending Carris Hill
Carris Hill
Carris Hill
Carris Hill
Carris Hill
Carris Hill
Carris Hill
Carris Hill
Carris Hill
Carris Hill
Carris Hill
Ascending on Highlands Trail
Ascending along Highlands Trail
Yoo Hoo Point
Yoo Hoo Point Vicinity
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
On Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Ascending Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point toward Windbeam Mountain and beyond
Wyanokie High Point
View on Wyanokie High Point
View from Wyanokie High Point of Wanaque Reservoir
A bird flying over the Wyanokie Mountains
Wyanokie High Point view of Wanaque Reservoir
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyatt in a nighty on Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point, Wyatt in a nighty
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wanaque Reservoir from Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Highlands Trail descending toward Mine Brook
Descending on the HT to Min Brook
Near Mine Brook in the Wyanokies
Mine Brook foot bridge
Crossing Mine Brook
Blue Mine
Ascending Ball Mountain on Highlands Trail
Highlands Trail on Ball Mountain
Near Townsend and West Brook Road
Near Townsend and West Brook Road
Blue Mine
Ball Mountain vicinity on Highlands Trail
Along the Highlands Trail near Wanaque Reservoir
On the wayup Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain on the Highlands Trail
Windbeam Mountain on the Highlands Trail
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain view of Wanaque Reservoir
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Windbeam Mountain
Little Windbeam I think
On Little Windbeam in the Wyanokies
On Little Windbeam
Little Windbeam
Part of Windbeam Mountain
Part of Windbeam Mountain
Highlands Trail on the Stonetown Circular
Highlands Trail on the Stonetown Circular
Highlands Trail in Bear Mt. NJ area I think
Bear Mountain
Wanaque Reservoir view from Bear Mountain
View from Bear Mountain
Descending Bear Mountain on the Highlands Trail
Descending Bear Mountain
Between Board and Bear Mountains
Commando Tom on the Highlands Trail
On the HT in northern Wyanokies
Along the HT
Shelly on the HT
Along Highlands Trail between Wanaque and Monksville Reservoir
On Highlands Trail between Wanaque and Monksville
Highlands Trail nearing Monksville
Ascending Board Mountain
Ascending Board Mountain
Ascending Board Mountain
Ascending Board Mountain
Ascending Board Mountain
Board Mountain
View of Monksville Dam and reservoir from Board Mountain
View of Monksville Dam from Board Mountain
Board Mountain
View from Board Mountain
Russ!
Naaron on Board Mountain
On Board Mountain in the Wyanokies
On Board Mountain
Board Mountain view
On Board Mountain
Atop Board Mountain
Sue on Board Mountain
Descending Board Mountain
Board Mountain view
Crossing Stonetown Road on the Highlands Trail
Monksville Reservoir along the Highlands Trail
Monksville Reservoir
Monksville Reservoir
Ascending Harrison Mountain
On the way up Harrison Mountain
Ascending Harrison Mountain
Harrison Mountain
Harrison Mountain
Harrison Mountain
View from Harrison Mountain
View of Monksville Reservoir from Harrison Mountain
Monksville Reservoir from Highlands Trail on Harrison Mountain
View from Highlands Trail on Horse Pond Mountain
View of Monksville Reservoir from Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain view
Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain view
Horse Pond Mountain view of Monksville Reservoir along the Highlands Trail
Horse Pond Mountain
Horse Pond Mountain view
Horse Pond Mountain
Former Greenwood Lake Railroad bed along Highlands Trail
Greenwood Lake Railroad bed
Greenwood Lake Railroad bed
Greenwood Lake Railroad bed
Greenwood Lake Railroad bed
Greenwood Lake Turnpike where something new is being built
Reaching our end point, Greenwood Lake Turnpike at Hewitt NJ
End point, Hewitt NJ
End point in Hewitt
End point in Hewitt
Pimp Joe at our end point in Hewitt
End point, Hewitt
The Tall One joined us for dinner after the hike
We met in the morning in Hewitt and shuttle cars to the parking area at Glenwile Avenue at Otter Hole. Joining this time were Fred Hafale, "Amish Paul" and Wyatt Hassler, Shelly Janes, Russ MOyer, "Naaron" Young, Jim "Mr. Buckett" Mathews, Sue Bickford-Martin, Jaque De Melo, and Tom Petrucci. A group of all regulars, it was a perfect combo for this difficult trip. We began walking from Otter Hole. I intentionally did'nt bring much wine this time because I knew we would have a great amount of elevation gain and loss, and that I would be sweating profously. However, Jaque brought me three half bottles of wine this time! I drank most all of them and was perfectly fine by some miracle! In fact, I felt quite great! The trail from Otter Hole took us to the Highlands Trail, where it was co-aligned with he Hewitt-Butler Trail. We began following it east. The trail turned away from Post's Brook, then began ascending Carris Hill rather steeply. I tried to push forward hard, staying near the front of the group. There was already some good views before even getting to the top, crossing over some interesting rocks. When we reached the top of Carris Hill there were some nice views which included Wanaque Resevoir. We took a bit of a break here. After admiring the view, we continued on heading steeply down from Carris Hill to Yoo Hoo Point, with more views. The HT continued turning off Hewitt-Butler Trail and followed Wyanokie Circular Trail to Wyanokie High Point with great views. We continued to descend crossing over a brook at the Blue Mine, an old iron mine on a woods road. Here, the Highlands Trail blazes ended. I had worked it out with Glenn Oleksak, Highlands Trail supervisor, that I could call him on his friend Bob Jonas's cell phone to have him tell me how to continue on the HT north. Bob, as it turned out, was really the guy to ask about it. He directed us up the road to the north where the trail turned off to the right, or east. He instructed me that we'd be following orange tape on trees with mostly completed trail, and that there would be a lot of blowdowns, but the blazes would resume. Sure enough, they did, and this was quite a great section. Mr. Buckett and Naaron were having some sort of off the wall conversation in this section; Mr. Buckett was referring to how an attractive woman going by was referred to as a "passing" by someone, but that he called it a "passing ass". I don't know why it was so funny, it must have been in the delivery, but I laughed histerically for a good while. This section took us over Ball Mountain to West Brook Road near the intersection with Townsend Road. It took us parallel to the road just barely into the woods, then began ascending Windbeam Mountain near the intersection of West Brook and Stonetown Roads. This was a very steep climb. I was surprised to pass a wild turkey on the way up, sitting on a rock outcropping. The Highlands Trail was soon joined by the Stonetown Circular Trail, and we continued on passing some great viewpoints over Wanaque Resevoir. Continueing from here, we had many ups and downs, but significantly descending from Windbeam Mountain and then ascending Bear Mountain, then another up and down to reach Board Mountain. All of the views were spectacular.The trail descended us again to Stonetown Road I think it was, and crossed us over to a fenced area alongside Monksville Resevoir, just above the dam for it. We ascended to Harrison Mountain after this. The Highlands Trail headed up hill and joined the Horse Pond Mountain Trail, which Fred was caretake of. We began following it north. We eventually got to the top of Horse Pond Mountain, the last vista we would have for the trip. The view was great, as we looked at the bend in Monksville Resevoir perfectly. We took a bunch of pictures and were on our way. The descent was easy as I recall it, and we soon reached the right of way of the former Greenwood Lake Railroad, one I'd been eyeing to do a hike on for some time. The HT followed it north briefly, then turned away from it to the right. I opted to stay on the HT while Fred led the others back on the rail bed which came out in the same parking area. Wyatt, Tom, and Mr. Buckett I think it was stayed with me...and maybe Naaron. I don't remember. We all ended up at the parking area at the same time. Joe changed into a Billabong shirt he'd found somewhere, and we shuttled cars back. It was brutal but rewarding hike!
1.) Wyatt ascending Carris Hill in the Wyanokies, Norving Green State Forest on the Highlands Trail/Hewitt-Butler Trail2.) View on the way up Carris Hill3.) Shelly and Sue ascending Carris Hill4.) View on Carris Hill4a.) Russ (FH)4b.) Viewpoint (FH)4c.) The group on the trail (FH)4d.) Shelly (FH)5.) View of Wanaque Resevoir6.) I think this is either Yoo Hoo Point or Wyanokie High Point6a.) On the Highlands Trail in the Wyanokies (FH)6b.) Naaron (FH)7.) Somewhat of a view8.) View from Wyanokie High Point9.) Ascending to Wyanokie High Point10.) View from Wyanokie High Point11.) View northeast from Wyanokie High Point12.) View from Wyanokie High Point12a.) Wanaque Resevior from Wyanokie High Point (FH)12b.) A BIRD! (FH)12c.) Wanaque Resevoir (FH)13.) View from Wyanokie Highpoint of Wanaque Resevoir14.) View of New York City Skyline from Wyanokie High Point15.) View of Wanaque Resevoir from Wyanokie High Point16.) Wyatt on Wyanokie High Point in his nighty17.) Wanaque Resevoir from Wyanokie High Point18.) Wanaque Resevoir18a.) View northeast (FH)18b.) Me (FH)18c.) View toward Windbeam Mountain (FH)18d.) Shelly (FH)18e.) On Wyanokie High Point (FH)18f.) Wyatt posing in his nighty (FH)18g.) Sue on the rocky high point (FH)18h.) Jaque and Naaron (FH)18i.) Leaving Wyanokie High Point (FH)19.) Ruins of an old shelter on the HT19a.) Naaron and company near Blue Hole (FH)20.) Blue Mine20a.) Amish Paul and Shelly crossing a log on the HT (FH)21.) On the way up Windbeam Mountain22.) View on part of Windbeam Mountain I think23.) On the way up Windbeam Mountain24.) On Windbeam Mountain24a.) View from Windbeam Mountain (FH)24b.) The group on Windbeam Mountain (FH)24c.) Wanaque Resevoir from Winbeam Mountain (FH)24d-24n.) ON Windbeam Mountain I think (FH)25.) Wanaque Resevoir from Windbeam Mountain26.) View from Windbeam Mountain west27.) Windbeam Mountain View28-29.) View of Monksville Dam probably from Bear or Board Mountain29a.) Monksville Dam (FH)29b.) Russ (FH)29c.) Naaron (FH)29d.) The group (FH)29e.) Along the trail (FH)29f.) View along the trail (FH)29g-29i.) Taking a break (FH)30.) View to the north30a.) Crossing a road near Monksville Dam (FH)30b-30c.) Monksville Resevoir (FH)31.) Monksville Resevoir32.) Naaron resting in some rocks33.) Shelly on the Highlands Trail/Horse Pond Mountain Trail34.) I think this is from Harrison Mountain34a-34f.) Viewpoint break (FH)35.) View of Monksville Resevoir from Horse Pond Mountain36-38.) Views from Horse Pond Mountain39.) Along former Greenwood Lake Railroad where the Highlands Trail is co aligned with it39a-39c.) Along the Greenwood Lake Railroad bed (FH)40.) Something new being built along Greenwood Lake Turnpike41-44.) Back at the parking area in Hewitt NJ
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