10/2/10 Highlands Trail; Mahlon Dickerson Reservation to Byram with Jillane Becker, Amanda Rosenblatt, Al MacLennan, Carol and Rob Creamer, "DJ Ray" Cordts, Christina Manley, Eric Pace, and Wayne Meiner.
The group at Headley Overlook, Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
Other participants also have their pictures up on their profiles.
My next hike would be a point to point, and a repeat of a past hike...sort of...
The Highlands Trail has been a hike I had been doing as a series for quite a long time, and whenever I'd hear of a new section opening up I'd go and check it out. One day I wandered out to check out a new section between Byram and Bear Pond. Originally, the trail went from Bear Pond north of Lake Hopatcong out through the Peter Kellogg property and onto South Sparta Mountain, then onto a section of woods parallel with the Lackawanna Cutoff near Lake Lackawanna, and then out to Byram School.
That route was closed by the community or something, and while the Kellogg tract was not lost it would involve a long road walk. Permission was now given to go through a Hudson Farm property south of Bear Pond and eliminate the need for such a long road walk.
I arranged a hike that would begin in Mahlon Dickerson Reservation and end in Byram.
We met at the Byram Shop Rite and then shuttled vehicles to a parking area along Weldon Road at the Highlands Trail.
Highlands Trail in Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
When we got together at the trail head there was a weird paper material head. We picked it up and looked at it quite a bit. It appeared likely that it was supposed to be President Obama. I kept the thing for a while, until we got to Headley Overlook.
View from Headley Overlook
The "Head" at Headley Overlook!
I stuck the head up on a tree limb and thought it would be funny if all of a sudden it appeared in Weird NJ magazine. I got a kick out of it so immediately sent a message to Mark Moran saying I'd placed it there, and let's see how long it is before someone sends him a picture of it. Still no word four months later. I still think it was quite appropriate that I placed a head at Headley Overlook.
"The Head" at Headley Overlook.
"Headley", the head at Headley Overlook
Lake Hopatcong in view from Headley Overlook, Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
We could see Lake Hopatcong in the distance pretty well from the vista.
Along the yellow blazed trail heading south from Headley Overlook
We followed the Highlands Trail south off of Headley Overlook, and then soon turned left from that onto the yellow blazed trail that headed south through the park. Carol and Rob let Bruce, their dog, off the leash for a bit, but he ran off for the second time. They'd have to take measures from this point on not to have him run off since he couldn't be trusted off leash any more. They stayed back looking for him, and when they found him I gave them instructions on how to meet back up with us following the Highlands Trail.
Site of an old house along the yellow blazed trail, Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
We continued along the yellow blazed trail, and along the way there was another side trail that went to the left. I opted to follow this one instead, even though it wasn't on the map, knowing there was a risk it would take us to the wrong place. It was too axciting a prospect I suppose. We followed this trail as it went over uneven terrain, then returned to the yellow blazed trail where it was on an old woods road.
Southern Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
The yellow trail continued south and soon skirted the edge of a large lake. Maps showed this as just a swamp land, but it must have been wetter than usual. We continued along the edge, and then on the south side there was a seemingly abandoned building to our left made of cinder blocks. Must have been a power company thing or something.
Building along the swampland of the yellow trail, southern Mahlon Dickerson
Lake or swamp? Map says a swamp. Mahlon Dickerson, yellow trail
Old road, now route of the yellow blazed trail in southern Mahlon Dickerson
This is a Four Loco that Jenna and Tom had given me for house sitting!
The trail turned right and crossed the southern side of the marsh land, who's main tributary was the Weldon Brook. The road took us up hill a bit on the other side, and the yellow blazed trail I believe went right on what the map calls "Saffin Rock Rill". We kept going because there was supposed to be a visitor's center up there. Unfortunately it looked totally closed off. We continued up hill a bit and then hung a left along more yellow blazed trail, and descended the other side to parallel Weldon Road on an old woods road. Amanda fell behind us a bit here, because she saw some go into the woods thinking it was the trail. She took quite a while to catch up.
The woods road soon turned onto the former Ogden Mine Railroad right of way I'd followed years before. It crossed Weldon Road to our south side. We walked north on it and met back up with Carol and Rob at the concrete gates of what was once an estate that used the rail bed as an entrance.
Old gate site where Ogden Mine Railroad was once used to enter an estate, Mahlon Dickerson
Carol and Rob resting
Once Amanda had caught up we continued through the gate to where the Highlands Trail turned off of the right of way to the left, heading west. DJ Ray and Christina cut out here because he had a prior obligation or something. I instructed them to follow either the HT or yellow trail back.
Along Ogden Mine Railroad bed, Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
Along Winona Trail section of the Highlands Trail, Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
The rest of us turned left across Weldon Road and entered the woods on the opposite side. We headed down hill slightly as I recall to some wetlands. We were soon running closely parallel with Rt 15. In the past, this was a big problem for the Highlands Trail, and it really still is. The upper Musconetcong River goes under the highway here, but allows for no good pedestrian use. A bridge would have to be built across to allow for safe crossing, and that was unlikely. Recently Glenn Oleksak was able to get the trail moved south through Camp Jefferson and go across the highway on a bridge, then road walk back to the next section to the north. We weren't going to do that out of the way thing here although I'd like to do the section to Camp Jefferson.
Stream crossing on the Highlands Trail, Mahlon Dickerson Reservation
We crossed a little stream on fallen branches and then the HT went onto a knoll slightly above the highway. I realized pretty quickly this was too far to go, and that we'd need to cross Rt 15 somewhere right in here.
Crossing Rt 15 near the Highlands Trail for a shortcut
There was a lot of traffic, so we waited around for the perfect opportunity to try to dash across. It was fortunate that the highway had a wide median at this point or we'd have a much more difficult time getting across.
Crossing Rt 15 for a Highlands Trail short cut!
Crossing Rt 15, Highlands Trail short cut
Once we were all across, we made our way down hill into a gully, then back up another side to an area with some rocky outcroppings. I would have to use my phone GPS for this section because although the Highlands Trail route sort of went through here at one time it had been abandnoned. Even when it wasn't abandoned, it was only sparsely blazed more for the reference of the volunteers than for people hiking. I had to try to remember the way through, and it had been several years since my last time here.
Resting on the west side of Rt 15
Meadow near Rt 15, Jefferson Township
An old woods road west of Rt 15
There was an open meadow to the left, and rock outcroppings around to the right. We wandered through the woods and somewhere crossed over part of a power line. I couldn't quite finde how I'd gotten through this tiny piece of land before at first. After the power line we turned onto a woods road which I thought I recognized as being the route we followed before (I had had Bob Moss with me that time and he knew the route) and kept with it.
Old stone walls between Rt 181 and 15
An old mine pit between Rt 181 and Rt 15
Stone walls or ruins in the strip of land between Rt 181 and 15.
I knew we were going the right way when I saw more significant stone walls or foundations, and especially when we came across a giant mine pit. I remembered walking by it the other time I was there (actually the day after I cut my long hair).
The ruins of the slanted house of Sparta
We came out exactly where we were supposed to, along Rt 181 where there were ruins of a few buildings. On my previous trip, one house was still standing, apparently braced by the chimney. I had gone in and really liked how the entire house was on a slant. I referred to it as the Sparta Slant House for a while. I knew it wouldn't last long. This time it had completely collapsed. I was surprised that it, nor any of the other old building ruins in the area had been removed.
Sparta slant house ruins
House ruins along Rt 181
House ruins along Rt 181
House ruins along Rt 181
This house looked surprisingly the same as my last visit years earlier.
When we crossed Rt 181, I struggled for a moment to actually see where the Highlands Trail re entered the woods. We found it after a little bit and ascended the hillside above Rt 181 steeply. This took us onto quarry property through which the AT had permission to cross. As we walked we could see quarry operations going onto the south.
Nice open rock the Highlands Trail crosses on quarry property west of Rt 181
The trail continued as I recall from here with quarry in view to our left. We kept just into the woods until we came to the bottom of a slight descent. It was here the Highlands Trail turned left to cross the line.
Giant boulder where the Highlands Trail crosses a utility line of some sort.
Power line crossing for the Highlands Trail
Highlands Trail power line crossing north of Lake Hopatcong
This was an extremely difficult area. The power line company was apparently just there and had cut all of the vegetation from under the line, including anything that might have been blazed. We had to try to walk through what must have been several feet thick piles of dropped saplings and brush. I walked up and down along a hill to try to find the best route across, but there really was no good way.
Once on the other side, I had to walk down a hill looking for HT blazes. It was difficult, but I finally found them and then motioned everyone to try to head toward me.
Highlands Trail north of Lake Hopatcong along quarry fence
The HT ahead soon skirted the edge of some quarry property by following along the edge of a chain link fence for quite some distance. This section was much much longer than I had remembered it being from past hikes. The trail eventually turned away from the fencing and descended.
Highlands Trail descending toward Bear Pond
We continued through more dense woods, away from signs of civilization until we came to a spot where it looked like the connection was to the parking area for Roland May Eve's Mountain Inlet Sanctuary near Lake Hopatcong. Most of the group felt like they couldn't keep going because it was soon to be dark. Everyone except for Amanda cut out here and headed to the parking area at the Mt. Inlet Sanctuary. I think we had spotted Wayne's car here earlier, but not sure.
Amanda and I continued along the trail heading toward Bear Pond.
Highlands Trail nearing Bear Pond
Bear Pond
It is always really cool for me to hike this section of the trail from the shore of Bear Pond on. I was part of a scouting hike for this section in 2003, and again after that when the trail was only flagged, and I can picture it in that early state.
Highlands Trail along Bear Pond
Bear Pond from the Highlands Trail
We made our way around the edge of Bear Pond and across the spillway, then into the woods again past fire rings towards the developments.
Crossing a spillway at Bear Pond
Bear Pond from the Highlands Trail
Fire rings at Bear Pond
We soon met up with Jillane who had been hanging out at Bear Pond with her sister's dog, Tyson. We had taken much longer to get there than anticipated. I think I stopped and took a swim to the island and back when we took a break, but I can't remember totally. Pretty sure I did though.
From here, we followed the new section of the HT. It used to descend from here to Peter Kellogg's driveway, but now it continued out along the lake to the end of a road known as Aladdin Trail. This was interesting because our friend Ben Tharp who lives on Bear Pond has had trouble with his neighbors telling him Bear Pond is private and since his house doesn't butt up to the lake like theirs does, he has no rights to use any of it including the trail. This is most certainly not the case now.
Bear Pond from Aladdin Trail
We followed Aladdin Trail out to Maxim Drive where the trail then turned left. It continued on the road only a short distance and then turned right into Hudson Farm property, a piece long eyed for inclusion in the Highlands Trail system.
Near the turn off of the road was the ruins of an old house, made of some lovely stone. Only a little woodwork remained from the structure, so we went up to look around at it's remains.
Ruins near Bear Pond
Ruins near bear Pond
Ruins near Bear Pond
Ruins near Bear Pond
Ruins near Bear Pond
Ruins near Bear Pond
Ruins near Bear Pond
Jillane found a rusty kettle to caress...
After this we continued along the Highlands Trail as it ascended for a bit over some rocky outcroppings.
Highlands Trail in Hudson Farm
Highlands Trail in Hudson Farm
Along Highlands Trail in Hudson Farm
Highlands Trail in Hudson Farm
The Highlands Trail in Hopatcong Nature Preserve
The trail continued up and down over some nice, interesting terrain, and then came to the abandoned end of Brooklyn Mountain Road, probably once a through route, or a proposed through route that was never seen to completion. On the opposite side was the beginning of the Hopatcong Nature Trail blazed with yellow triangles with which the HT is coaligned.
Nice stream view in Hopatcong Nature preserve
The trail went back up and then down very close to Rt 605, and so Jillane and Amanda opted to walk the road instead of the trail. I took Tyson's leash and took him along the trail which went high above the roadway with a seasonal view, and past a nice cascade.
At the library in Byram Township on Rt 605
The trail soon came out onto Rt 605 from where we'd have to do a road walk. We took a break along the way at the library, and to wait for Amanda to catch up because she'd fallen a bit behind.
On the steps to the library in Byram Twp.
We continued down the road and eventually reached the next new trail section, the Byram Bike Path. It turned right across a bridge over the Lackawanna Cutoff; a side path led to a high school while the main one followed by the HT descended through woods, then to a junction with another woods road that was the former HT route before that property was closed. The path, which used to just be a woods road coming out next to the Byram School on Mansfield Drive, was now a developed multi use trail with signage and bollards.
Jillane and Amanda didn't want to go on any further, so I decided to try to run back to Amanda's car at the Byram Shop Rite and come back to pick them up. They would walk the trail at their own pace to the Byram Intermediate School on Mansfield Drive and I would pick them up there.
I ran as best I could along the trail heading sort of down hill, then out to the school. It was hard to breathe, but the cold sensation I used to get in my lungs from running had diminished. I suppose it's because I now had so much scar tissue in there I'd lost feeling. What did happen though was that by the time I reached Amanda's car my hands had begun to fall asleep, probably because I wasn't assimilating oxygen fast enough. Either way, I felt like by running I'd accomplished something important on my road to recovery.
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