Hike #73
At the beginning of the hike, Stephens State Park. This was the last group shot my grandmother ever took for us.
Hike 73
10/27/2
The second to last picture of my grandmother alive, the last time she ever dropped off the crazy hikers...
Because Tea Biscuit and Bode and I got lost on the previous time trying to hike what I
was to come to refer to as my “Mid Skylands Hike” (Because it encompasses the center of
the NJ Skylands Region, Warren, Sussex, Morris, Hunterdon, and Somerset, the hike only
discludes Somerset County), I decided to do the planned route backwards. Tea Biscuit
decided not to go for some reason. I was joined by Rich and Eric Pace.
Stephens State Park
In Stephens SP
Stephens State Park along the Musconetcong
Musconetcong River at Stephens State Pakr
Musconetcong
Musconetcong River at Stephens State Park
Along the trail in Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail in Stephens State Park
Lime kiln in Stephens State Park
Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail in Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail in Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail in Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail in Stephens State Park
Old car along the Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Car along Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
We left Rich’s car in Long Valley, and my grandmother drove us to Stephens State Park
to drop us off. Sadly, this would be the last time ‘Grammie’ would ever drop us off for a
full length hike, as she passed away in December 2002.
We began walking along the trail close to the Musconetcong River, and we even walked
out onto an island at one point. One more wooded trail closely parallels the wider riverside
trail, which Rich was happier to get onto.
The trail took us past the park office, then up along a park road, then through wooded
lands and picnic grills. It became narrower, and soon led us away from the river, gradually
ascending Mt Olive. On the way, we passed a long abandoned car.
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail in water authority property
Highlands Trail, Mt. Olive NJ
Highlands Trail making it's way up Mt. Olive
Highlands Trail crossing a brook at Mt. Olive
When we reached the top of the climb, we crossed the berm of either a mine or a building
foundation. We then began a gradual descent to Mine Hill Road, an abandoned paved road
from Hackettstown to Mt Olive. We crossed, and soon crossed a dirt water authority
road. The trail then led us through an interesting pine grove, then across a power line, and
downhill over a large creek. Ascending the other side, we made our way out to Rt 46
under a billboard in Mt Olive. We crossed and stopped in the A&P where I chatted with
friends including Jake Watters. There are good deli sandwiches at A&P, still, Eric insisted
on going to Burger King, where Rich and I met him afterwards.
Highlands Trail coming out on Rt 46, Mt. Olive
Along the hike we stopped at Mt. Olive A&P and chatted with Jake and deli Mike
Eric in Burger King along the way, Mt. Olive
Along Mission Road, Mt. Olive
Mission Road, Mt. Olive
Along Mission Road, Mt. Olive
Patriot's Path, future Highlands Trail route, at Mission, Reservoir, Spring, Mt. Olive
Patriot's Path along former Mission Road
Abandoned swimming pool along Patriot's Path, Mt. Olive
Abandoned swimming pool along Patriot's Path, Mt. Olive
Along Patriot's Path, former Mission Road in Mt. Olive
Patriot's Path view towards Hackettstown
Patriot's Path area view towards Hackettstown
Future route of Patriot's Path that had not yet been marked
Patriot's Path on northern Schooley's Mountain
Patriot's Path on northern Schooley's Mountain
Patriot's Path near Flocktown
Patriot's Path near Flocktown
Patriot's Path near Flocktown
Patriot's Path at Flocktown Kossman School
Along Falcon Ct. where Patriot's Path was unfinished
Harrington Field, future Patriot's Path route
Patriot's Path near Rock Road, Schooley's Mountain
Garder snake on Schooley's Mountain
Garder snake on Schooley's Mountain
Garder snake on Schooley's Mountain
Garder snake on Schooley's Mountain
We walked up Naughright Road to Mission Road, which led us to a section of Patriot’s
Path, entereing the woods along an abandoned section of Mission Road, at the corners of
Mission Road, Resevoir Road, and Spring Road.
We entered the woods, walking atop a stone row, and past a little pond (which I later
found out was an abandoned swimming pool!). This section of the trail was also adjacent
to a new developement. Soon, we entered the woods along a tributary, passed a lime kiln
and crossed a little wooden bridge before the blazes ended at a power line.
We decided to climb the power line to the south, making our way back into the woods at
the top via a woods road. There was a gate and a no trespassing sign across the way,
which we ignored and continued through. We soon reached another identical gate at the
other side of the narrow piece of property, and continued on, coming to some sort of a
level berm, probably part of some sort of old retention pond. An obvious trail followed the
berm. When the berm ended near someone’s house (other houses were in view to the
south for a while), we headed onto another path just to the north, and to our surprise, we
found white Patriot’s Path Blazes out of nowhere! We followed them, though it was not
well blazed, out to the end of a cul de sac.
From the cul de sac, we continued straight, making our first right, then first left, which led
us back to the section of Patriot’s Path I had previously walked with Tea Biscuit and
Bode. We followed it back the same way, to Floctown, then out to Rock Road into
Schooley’s Mountain County Park.
While along the Electric Brook, we found a Garder Snake.
Me on Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mt.
Crossing Electric Brook, Schooley's Mountain Park
Patriot's Path near Springtown Road, Schooley's Mountain Park
Crossing Electric Brook, Schooley's Mountain Park
Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park
Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park
Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park
We continued across Springtown Road, and down to the base of Schooley’s Mountain
and the High Bridge Branch Railroad grade, back into Long Valley. Originally, I had
planned to continue on, but changed my mind and cut out with Rich and Eric here.
Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park
Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park
Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park
Overlook from Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park
View of Long Valley from Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park
Long Valley view from Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park
Long Valley from Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park
Patriot's Path, Schooley's Mountain Park south of Fairview Ave, Long Valley
Columbia Trail in Long Valley
Former CNJ High Bridge Branch rail right of way in Long Valley
Former CNJ High Bridge Branch rail right of way in Long Valley
Former CNJ High Bridge Branch rail right of way in Long Valley
Abandoned Welsch Farms place in Long Valley before it was torn downFormer CNJ High Bridge Branch rail right of way in Long Valley
Former CNJ High Bridge Branch rail right of way in Long Valley
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