Hike #76
On the Highlands Trail in Stephens State Park
Hike 76
12/26/6
This was a rough emotional time for my family. My grandmother, who I had been
particularly close with, had passed away just over a week before. Christmas was the day
before, and it just did’nt seem right, even though we’d gotten a heavy snow for a white
Christmas. I really wanted to get out and hike, clear my head.
Tea Biscuit rolling down the slope from Bilby Road
Tea Biscuit rolling down the slope to the tracks from Bilby Road
Bilby Road bridge on former Morris and Essex tracks, Hackettstown
Morris and Essex tracks near Hackettstown
Stephens State Park
Musconetcong at Stephens State Park
Tea Biscuit did’nt hesitate to join. Cathy was working at Diversified Systems in
Hackettstown, and we got a ride with her to work, and started walking from there, on
Bilby Road.
We got to the bridge over the former M&E railroad tracks (Now NJ Transit), and
climbed down to the grade. Actually, Tea Biscuit rolled violently through the snow all the
way to the bottom!
He neglected to wear a hat and was very cold. A passenger train soon flew by throwing
more loose snow onto us.
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
Highlands Trail, Stephens State Park
The views were spectacular, as we walked the route of the Highlands Trail to Patriot’s
Path I had done recently with the Paces on 10/27. We followed the same route, which was
difficult as the trees were weighted down over the trail, the snow was deep, and the the
blazes upon the trees were not visible due to the snow. We often times had to brush snow
off trees to find blazes.
Highlands Trail, municipal water property on Mt. Olive
Tommy O'Brien and I at A&P
Tom the baker at Mt. Olive A&P
When we reached Mt Olive and crossed Rt 46, we walked across a car lot and found a
snow drift so deep we could barely walk through. We stopped in at the A&P and ate tons
of cookies from their sample dish. In fact, I think we ate all of them! We chatted with
people we knew and then were on our way.
Our next stop was in the dollar store, near the A&P, where Tea Biscuit bought a much
needed hat!
Trail off of Naughright Road, Mt. Olive
Trail off of Naughright Road, Mt Olive
Patriot's Path on Mt Olive near Mission Road, abandoned swimming pool
Patriot's Path, Mt Olive
Power line view on Mt Olive
Harrington Field, Schooley's Mt.
Deep drift on Schooley's Mountain
He fell into a deep snow drift in Schooley's Mountain Park
We continued on down Naughtright Road, skipping Mission Road and entereing a
pedestrian path through a developement to Spring Road. We then walked to the Patriot’s
Path.
In Schooley’s Mountain Park, we came across one drift so bad that I had to help pull Tea
Biscuit out!
When we reached Long Valley, we decided not to continue on once again, and went to
the deli in town to call Cathy to try to get a ride back. Fortunitely, we were able to contact
her, and while we waited chatted with a girl who was half irish, half egyptian (interesting
mix) for some time.
View from Patriot's Path on Schooley's Mountain into Long Valley
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