Hike #352; Livingston/Hanover Loop

 Hike #352 7/3/8

7/3/8 Livingston/Hanover Area Loop with Cathy Fisher.

On the Octopus Tree, Troy Meadows Natural Area

I lost the original journal entry to this one to the fire, so I'll try to remember it (unless someone happens to have a disc with it)

View from Riker Hill

Construction site below Riker Hill

Abandoned building in Livingston

Ruins of old building in Lurker Park, East Hanover

Wetlands along Patriot's Path in East Hanover

Wetlands along Patriot's Path in East Hanover

Smith Ditch

Patriot's Path in Troy meadows vicinity

The Octopus Tree

The Octopus Tree in Troy Meadows

Troy Meadows

Morristown and Erie tracks in East Hanover

These geese walked right in front of me for a long time on the tracks, without diverting a bit.

Morristown and Erie Tracks, East Hanover

Morristown and Erie tracks in East Hanover

The Passaic River from the railroad trestle

Trestle over the Passaic in Livingston

I think we must have started at the Quick Check in Livingston area along the railroad tracks. I know somehow we ended up walking up hill into the Riker Hill area, formerly a Nike Missile base. There was sort of a lolly pop loop trail which took us around. We then got on the Lenape Trail system and followed it westbound to it's end at West Essex Environmental Education Center. Here the Patriot's Path began.

We followed Patriot's Path out to Eagle Rock Road, then across the Passaic River and into Lurker Park. The route had changed since my last visit as I recall. It used to be somewhat washed out but a good easy path. Now, the trail took us on the south side of the park and next to a power line. It was much more difficult and barely cut at the time. This led us out into East Hanover where it followed Ridgedale Ave and some back roads for a while. I think we stopped and had some lunch at a diner there, it was sort of a strip mall diner, very weird.

We continued on the trail which took us out along the Smith Ditch to Troy Meadows Natural Area, which I love. We walked through this section to what I call the Octopus Tree, an odd eight armed tree the trail goes right over, then headed out to the road. We walked down Algonquin Parkway after turning off of the trail down to the Morristown and Erie Railroad tracks. I'd already followed it to Morristown to the west, now we would follow it back to where we started. The section was nice, and the most memorable thing was a bunch of geese that would not fly off, but just walked in front of me on the tracks. I was so amazed by it I had to shoot a video.

The last point of interest was the trestle over the Passaic River. Shortly after this we reached the Quick Check.