Hike #549 3/14/11
On Wyanokie High Point
3/14/11 Norvin Green State Forest Wyanokies Loop with Jason Itell, Cesco Tetto, Fred Hafele, and Glenn Rothman
My next hike would be a large loop in the NJ Wyanokies, mostly within Norvin Green State Forest. It was a great hike in a surprisingly remote section of NJ on a Monday. We saw only one other hiker all day.
Seasonal view on Ball Mountain, Wyanokies
Ball Mountain
Ball Mountain
Ball Mountain
I picked up Cesco in the morning and headed to our meeting point, on Westbrook Road. I met Jason and Glenn there, but I didn't realize the parking lot I really wanted was pull off on the corner of West Brook and Townsend Road a bit further down. Fred was waiting for us there and we didn't realize it!
Glenn went and found Fred, and we all moved the cars there; this was the site of where the Highlands Trail crossed Townsend Road.
We started our hike on the Highlands Trail. The last time I had been on this section the HT was not open yet, but it was built and flagged. There were blazes back in the woods but it wasn't marked nearer to the roads yet. I had to talk to a supervisor on the phone to get me through.
This time the trail was complete, and we followed it easily to the top of Ball Mountain. On my last trip there was too much foliage to have a view, but this time there was a bit of seasonal view to the east of Wanaque Reservoir.
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Along the way, Glenn noticed an orange side trail which we sort of dismissed as nothing more than something people put in without the park's consent. We continued down to the glen below Ball Mountain where we made a right hand turn onto ???????? Trail. We followed this, and when it forked we kept to the right. We soon came to some orange blazes, the other end of the trail we had seen earlier. This trail was a new connection made because the former route of the Mine Trail, which used to go through to the north, to Weis Ecology Center, was indefinitely closed due to people littering on private land.
The orange blazed trail led us to the fantastic Roomy Mine. This accessible mine had three openings: one low to the ground which could be crawled in, a circular inaccessible one, and a shaft. Jason, Cesco, and I crawled on in. There was a large room where we could plainly see up a wide shaft. Glenn and Fred climbed to the top of the Shaft and looked down on us. Beyond, there was an adit going further into the mountain. We had to duck a bit, but it was easy to get in.
The mine zig zagged back and forth until it came to an end, where it seemingly was explored in two directions that proved not to be fruitful. At this point, we turned back.
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine
Roomy Mine cliffs
Giant tree on Mine Trail
Blue Mine
Wanaque Reservoir from Wyanokie High Point
Wanaque Reservoir from Wyanokie High Point
Wanaque Reservoir from Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point view of Windbeam Mountain
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wanaque Reservoir from Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Wyanokie High Point
Once we were out of the mine, we turned back the same way we came heading back out toward the Highlands Trail. Along the way we passed by a really nice giant tree.
At the Highlands Trail, we checked out briefly the opening of Blue Mine, an old mine completely filled with water. We then proceeded along the Highlands Trail past the ruins of an old shelter, and then made our ascent of Wyanokie High Point.
The way to the top was very steep. I really needed this workout. I hadn't done too much elevation all winter and wanted to whip myself back into shape for the Spring. I knew a Wyanokies trip would do it, and this ascent proved I was right. Before reaching the very top, we stopped at a nice view over Manhattan to the east. I had forgotten that the view from Wyanokie High Point itself, still a bit further up, was even more fantastic.
We had incredible views over Wanaque Resevoir, the town of Wanaque, and beyond with Manhattan towering in the distance. To the north we could see far off to what was probably the Sterling Ridge, but in the foreground a nice view of Windbeam Mountain.
Wyanokie view, Carris Hill area
Carris Hill view west
Glacial erratic on Carris Hill Trail
South view on Carris Hill
Rock on Carris Hill Trail
South view from Carris Hill
Descending Carris Hill Trail
Carris Hill Trail
Carris Hill Trail view
Wanaque Reservoir from Carris Hill Trail
From Carris Hill Trail
Carris Hill Trail view
Wanaque Reservoir from Carris Hill Trail
Wanaque Reservoir from Carris Hill Trail
Carris Hill Trail outcropping
Wanaque Reservoir from Carris Hill Trail
View form Carris Hill Trail
Carris Hill Trail rocks
We descended somewhat steeply off of Wyanokie High Point. I was thinking how amazing it was that my shoes, brown dress shoes with no tread, were getting grip on the rocks. I suppose it was because of the makeup of the rocks. After we came off of the rock outcroppings, we passed the Hewitt Butler Trail's joining from the right. We continued ahead, descending through a saddle and then back up a bit of a knoll, then down through another saddle. The next ascent we made was up Carris Hill. There were a couple more views here, and the trail split. The Highlands Trail and Hewitt Butler Trail descended to the right toward Otter Hole, while Carris Hill Trail turned left. I had never hiked Carris Hill Trail, and so wanted to do that one, but Fred knew Post Brook, at the bottom of that trail, would be flooded out a bit and might make for difficult hiking, so he and Glenn descended on the HT/HB trails to meet up with us below.
Jason, Cesco, and I made our way along Carris Hill Trail heading south. It remained on the crest of Carris Hill, which was longer than I'd thought, and came to another view point facing to the west first. I thought that alone made this trail worth following.
We continued on, and we were treated to a nice view to the west and south with a large glacial erratic straight ahead. Jason climbed onto it, followed by Cesco who ran right into the thing, most likely bruising himself. I climbed up after the two of them; the view from the top of it was surprisingly much better than right next to it.
We headed slightly down hill and to the left from this point. After a bit we came to yet another view point, the best yet in this section. A large slap of rock jutting forward offered views to the south, while there were unobstructed views to the east over Wanaque Reservoir, revealing more of the close up details than previous view points. We could see Rt 287 crossing a bridge over the river a short distance away, as well as homes, roads, and lots of forest.
View east from Carris Hill Trail
Carris Hill Trail along an outcropping
I could see where the yellow blazes of the Carris Hill Trail used to go right over the dangerous slap of rock directly down, but it had been rerouted around it to the right. We could have easily followed the old path, but for some reason we checked out the regular route. Maybe because of the dramatic cliff I wanted to see to the left. The slap of rock, while it was steep on the eastward side, was far more vertical on the westward. We descended past this amazing rock steeply, then past another series of boulders that would be great for climbing. We didn't bother trying because I wanted to catch up with Fred and Glenn who were probably already at our meeting point, Chikahokie Falls.
Rocks along Carris Hill Trail
Post Brook Trail crossing
Post Brook Trail dam
Along Post Brook Trail
We made or way down hill, and Post Brook soon came into view to the right. We could also see some white blazes of another trail, though we did not intersect. We came to a trail junction ahead, and I knew we were supposed to follow Post Brook. Somehow I made a wrong turn. We turned right and followed the brook, which according to my map seemed like the thing to do, but I was wrong. We continued and crossed over the brook on a set of stones. Normally this would be an easy crossing, but this time the water was high. I managed to get right across with no problem, but when Jason got out there he slipped and put one entire foot into the water. Cesco grabbed a stick to help guide him across.
We continued walking along the trail which went into a really nice little narrow gorge.
Post Brook Trail
I don't know why I didn't realize it, but we shouldn't have been going down stream. We eventually came to where we skirted a fence, at some sort of outlet, and then came close to a reservoir. I realized we went the wrong way and had to turn around. It was still a nice area. At one point the trail even went over a weird rock where we had to hold on and swing around over the brook.
We recrossed the bad brook crossing, and I went quickly ahead. This trail and the one we were supposed to be on were both blazed white, adding to confusion. It turns out, the white trail that paralleled us when we were coming down Carris Hill Trail was the one we needed to be on. We turned onto that which followed Post Brook up stream to Chikahoki Falls where we found Fred and Glenn.
Chikahokie Falls
Chikahokie Falls
Chikahoki Falls
Falls along Post Brook
Falls along Post Brook
Wyanokie Crest Trail
Wyanokie Crest Trail
Fred was just getting ready to leave us a note with Glenn's cell phone number so they could leave. They figured we went the wrong way, but just in case wanted us to be able to get in touch. They fortunately didn't need to leave it and we all continued along the brook up stream. There were several other smaller waterfalls as we continued.
It was on this stretch that we saw the only other hike all day, a lady with a british accent and her dog doing training for a big trip.
Soon, the Hewitt Butler and Highlands Trails joined from the right and we continued up stream. We then turned right onto Wyanokie Crest Trail. I had followed this trail in the dark once before in the Summer of the previous year, so I didn't get to appreciate it as much. It followed a stream up hill, and Fred told us it was the least used trail in all of Norvin Green State Forest.
We crossed one spot where I had to jump, the others found a log, and then turned away from the brook to ascend a rocky outcropping with a lot of glacial erratics. Here, we took a break, and then Fred and Glenn turned right to cut back toward the cars. Jason, Cesco, and I continued left. This took us to a nice view over Buck Mountain.
View from Wyanokie Crest
We continued on the trail which led us down hill to the Highlands Trail again, where we turned right. This took us down hill, and then to the steepest climb of the day up Buck Mountain. I didn't remember it being quite so bad, and it was a bit washed out. The view when we reached the top was probably the clearest of the day, with New York City coming into focus much better since the sun was showing a bit more.
View from Buck Mountain
Buck Mountain view
Buck Mountain view
Buck Mountain view
Highlands Trail on Buck Mountain
Highlands Trail on Buck Mountain
Buck Mountain View east
Buck Mountain view south
Buck Mountain view
Highlands Trail on Buck Mountain
We continued along the Highlands Trail past this outstanding view point to the left, out to another view where we could still see the city as well as Torne Mountain to the south. Cesco was checking for geocaching stuff along the way, but I'm not sure if he ever found anything.
We next turned right off of the HT and onto the Wyanokie Crest Trail heading north. There were a few more ups and downs, but this one was much less difficult than the trails we had been on. It eventually led us down into a valley where we found an interesting split rock.
Split rock along Wyanokie Crest Trail
Jason commented how I always say "Beauty is in the Behind of the Boulder" and how that was appropriate here. From this point, we ascended a bit more and soon reached a trail junction, three ways. We crossed Wyanokie Circular Trail (a lot of these trail names no longer make sense because a significant amount of the trails have changed due to a quarry property closing a section off to the north) and onto the pink blazed Bill Monroe Trail. This took us up to the top of Assini Wikam Mountain.
Will Monroe Trail on Assini Wikam Mountain
Assini Wikam Mountain
View on Assini Wikam Mountain
Assini Wikam Mountain view
Assini Wikam Mountain view
Assini Wikam Mountain view
The views were really nice. We could again see the city to the east, as well as the rest of the Wyanokie peaks to the north, and over to Saddle Mountain which no longer had trails on it.
The trail descended a bit and started heading down hill. It eventually reconnected further north on Wyanokie Circular. We turned left on this and had to head up hill a bit again. Cesco had really hit the wall at this point, he was dead tired. I was feeling pretty good, but not as good as when I got to the top of Buck Mountain, where I felt the runner's high.
We followed Wyanokie Circular to an old woods road and turned left. This old woods road saved us from making another unnecessary ascent, and it had an occasional white blaze. It was pretty badly washed out but we could walk along side it a bit.
It led us out to Otter Hole Trail, green blazed, and turned left following the road further. This also became really washed out and the trail was rerouted from the road onto a hillside to the left. We soon left Norvin Green State Forest, or followed it's boundary with Audobon Society Land on the left. The trail descended and rejoined the old road once again soon.
Abandoned well on Otter Hole Trail
Abandoned well on Otter Hole Trail
Abandoned farmstead, Otter Hole Trail
Abandoned farmstead, Otter Hole Trail
Abandoned farmstead, Otter Hole Trail, basement stairs
Former bridge site, Otter Hole Trail
Blue Brook
We soon came across the ruins of some old homestead. I spotted first an old well to the right of the trail, and some steps. The old well had a broken side, and there were pipes still in it. It appeared some effort had been made to try to fill it to some extent. The home ruin had two basements apparently, and steps were in a couple of places around the outside. Stairs down into the basement were almost completely intact save for one tree growing through them.
We continued on along the trail from here, with a hefty stone wall on the left to retain earth from falling into the road.
We soon came to an old bridge site where the road used to cross Blue Brook. The green blazes continued ahead, although my map showed it should have been orange (it was out of date), and a sign showed a white trail with a green "W" on it leading to the left and a sign pointing to "Weis" meaning the Ecology Center. We didn't want to take our chances, so we followed the white with green W on to the left.
We crossed the brook on stones and the trail led us out to where it once again joined with the regular green blazes we had been following, then crossed the brook once more on a nice bridge.
Bridge over Blue Brook
Cascade near the Highlands Pool
Highlands Pool, Weis Ecology Center
The trail went over some rocks and descended a bit past a small cascade, and the Highland Natural Pool, a swimming pool that used no chlorine or anything, came into view on the right. I had always wanted to see it. We continued on down stream to a more developed area where the blazes continued along a gravel road. We turned left away from the blazes to see if the Weis Ecology Center was open, but it was not. I grabbed a trail map, which was of course a trail conference one, and we continued back to the road and out to Snake Den Road. We followed this and passed where the Mine Trail used to come out, but was now closed. We could see where it went along people's yards and understood why they'd be upset with litter.
Pink house on Snake Den Road
Along the road we passed a house that was insanely pink, and I couldn't remember if this was one of them that made it to Weird NJ yet, but it sure was crazy. Cesco was dragging and totally tired. He asked if I could pick him up along the road, so I asked him to just make it to the next intersection. From Snake Den Road we passed the intersection with Dale Road and continued down hill. Cesco stopped in here somewhere. Jason and I continued down hill, and just before the intersection with West Brook Road turned right on an abandoned road alignment.
Abandoned old Snake Den Road
We followed this a short distance out to West Brook, and could see a small waterfall pouring into the slack water of Wanaque Reservoir below on Burnt Brook. From here we could see our cars parked on the intersection of Townsend, and we ran on back so Cesco wouldn't see how close it was, but we ddn't realize he'd already stopped further back. Oh well.
Falls on Burnt Meadow Brook into Wanaque Reservoir
This hike was exactly the workout I needed, and I felt much healthier following it.
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