Hike #674; Hunterdon Highlands, Voorhees State Park to West Portal
1/1/13 Hunterdon Highlands; Voorhees SP to West Portal with Matt Davis, Geoff Foschetti, Craig Nunn, Ron Phelps, David "Captain Soup" Campbell, Eric Pace, Stephanie Koles, John Spiridon, Kevin B. D., Paul ?, Jeff Falk, Jim L., Mark Weed, Marina Font, Mark ?, Anna ?, Manasi ?.
Group shot at Spruce Run Recreation Area
This next hike would be another "First Day Hike" hosted officially through the state of NJ. Last year, I was asked if I would host a hike, and of course I planned on doing one anyway to ring in the new year, as I had in the past, so we had a very successful one from White Lake to Swartswood State Park. This time, I would arrange one mostly on the Highlands Trail between two of my home parks, Voorhees and Spruce Run. I asked my friend and co-worker Geoff if he would be interested in co-leading, to which he agreed. I knew I could bring in a good number of people for this one, and I could use the help. Participation has been up lately anyway, with the inclusion of my trip postings on other Meetup.com groups.
I also asked for assistance from Matt Davis, Metrotrails Vice President, as well as Craig Nunn from NYNJ Trail Conference, and Ron Phelps from Appalachian Mountain Club.
It was cool to have the state sort of "backing me up", because I didn't have to print out any maps, I simply told the office what I needed, and had it all in an envelope with mine and Geoff's names on it by the end of each day. It saved me trips to the library. Overall, I ran the hike for the most part the way I always do with no problems.
We met in the morning at our end point, the Ethel Hoppock Middle School in West Portal, then shuttled with as few cars as possible to the beginning point, the Voorhees State Park Admin building. There, we were met by Donna, a photographer friend who was taking photos of First Day Hikes for area periodicals. She had showed up for the one at Round Valley and found only one person showed up. I wondered how our group of 19 compared to other state hikes that day.
We shuttled to Spruce Run and left cars there, for those cutting out early, then continued on to Voorhees State Park at the main office area. We were met by Donna S. who was the photographer I know...she did photography last year for the First Day Hike in Round Valley. She took photos before we took off. I gave everyone opportunity to use the restroom before we moved on.
Beginning, we made our way out to the Parcourse Circuit from the athletic fields, then out to the Hill Acres Trail. I imparted the history of the park, from everything regarding the original donation by Foster M. Voorhees to the CCC camps that once occupied the place. I even went on to discuss how today's commonplace political labels "liberal" and "conservative" first appeared on the political scene regarding New Deal and projects such as the CCC.
Hill Acres Trail too was named for the former estate. We made our way along this trail out to Observatory Road and the overlook of Round Valley Reservoir, which is not so impressive these days, even in Winter. We continued from here along Solar System Trail out to the observatory, then we walked the road over the crest of the hill with views toward Hagedorn hospital. We descended for a bit, then turned left into the Vista Trail, and I pointed out the "throne" chairs that were built by our sorely missed former Maintenance man, George, who had retired the previous year.
We continued steeply down the crudely pink blazed trail on a slope, then continued to a young stand of birches before the last descent to the Highlands Trail. We turned left on that trail to leave the park, coming out on Maple Lane.The trail turned right here, then soon left along Buffalo Hollow Road, never farm from view of the lovely Willougby Brook. We continued up hill on Buffalo Hollow, then descended over the former CNJ tracks. I stopped several times for history talks about the old railroad, and then about the historic stone arch bridges for which Hunterdon County is infamous.
We had to wait up several times. It's never easy with such a large group. We crossed Rt 31 and then turned right into Union Furnace Nature Preserve. Eric opted to follow the road and skip the up hill. Everyone made it up without problem, and I told everyone about the Taylor Iron and Steel Company and the historic furnace that once stood nearby. The trail followed the old mill race, then headed up steeply to offer seasonal views into Glen Gardner and then of Spruce Run Reservoir, probably the nicest views of the entire trip. The trail continued out to the end of Serpentine Drive, then descended. At the bottom, we continued into Spruce Run Recreation Area across Van Syckles Road. I pointed out to everyone the former alignments of the roads from before the reservoir was completed in 1963. I also told of the reservoir's purpose, the acts for which it was created, etc. We followed the trail out across the boat launch road, then headed on past the bird blind and out to the road once more. We left the Highlands Trail for a bit for a side trip out into the park. We headed through the group picnic area, then along the trails out to the waterfront and past the beach complex, a stereotypical "futuristic" seventies design. We continued on along the paved trail through the wooded section out to the tower area, where dog training used to occur. Geoff told us the tower was where the judges used to sit. This was one of the historic tidbits I knew nothing of coming into the park. I hope one day we can have a better brochure about the history of the park here.
Mark and John left us at this point, and we continued on back to the Highlands Trail route, out of the park and into Clinton Wildlife Management Area. This next section I had never led a hike on yet. It had been moved from further up in the fields to much closer to the road than before. We followed the trail back to Van Syckles Road, crossed, and then followed the road for a bit before turning left on an abandoned old road heading toward the reservoir. Before the waterfront, the trail turned right off of the road, where there was a giant blown down Spruce tree, pretty much the only problem tree on the entire HT. Glenn and his volunteers had obviously been out and doing amazing work, because everything was clear.
We made our way between fields and on farm lanes through Clinton WMA. I think some of the trail was different than it used to be, including one section next to a pond where there was a stick walkway. That was now gone, but it still passed close to the pond. Other sections were rerouted altogether. We had to watch blazes closely as not to make wrong turns in the giant preserve.
We continued out to the last fields before coming back to Van Syckles, which still had some nice views of the Musconetcong Mountain in the distance and some of the valley. The trail used to keep to the left of the field, but now followed closer to the road before coming out to it. At the end, it passed the old Van Syckle House, a former tavern, and then turned right up Charlestown Road. We passed a terrific giant tree on this stretch. We soon turned left on Norton Church Road, climbed for a bit, then right on Mountainview Road and climbed some more. There was more public land along Norton Church, but no new trail in it yet. We turned right into Tower Hill Reserve when the public land appeared on the right and followed the mowed path for a bit.
Soon, we arrived at the Tower Hill House, still scheduled to be demolished by Hunterdon County. The roof was now missing some shingles. The house had had so much money sunk into it by Hunterdon, and they still wish to tear it down. I wish that section of property could be chiseled away and sold to private interest rather than tear it down. It should be in my opinion, because this is a "reserve", not a "preserve".
We continued on the mowed section of the Highlands Trail across from the house, then cut to the right into the woods. Some of the route was the same as it always was, but other sections were now rerouted. The Rohrig tract between Tower Hill and Jugtown Mountain Nature Preserve had been preserved since I helped to build this section, and so Glenn moved the trail. The new route was extremely rocky at times, but beautiful. I loved it. Manasi was having the toughest time of everyone with this part, carefully taking every step slowly. Geoff hung back with her to make sure she was alright while I circulated back and forth through the group to make sure everyone was alright.
When we finally reached Mine Road, everyone was there waiting. The trail turned left on the road briefly, then turned right into the woods once more. After waiting a bit, I had people go ahead because it was going to get too dark. I waited for Geoff and Manasi, with a few others. When they arrived, we got on a section of trail that I built up with sticks and stuff back in 2008, and made our way into the preserve. The blue trail loop, to my great surprise, had been closed off where the Highlands Trail met it. I don't know why, it seems pretty ridicules. They county is probably trying to close more of it's trails again.
The Highlands Trail remained the same, continuing past the old mines and scale area. We crossed the parking lot and continued through the pleasant wooded sections heading west, then descended for a bit. It was getting pretty dark, but we didn't really need lights that bad. There was a layer of snow on the ground that made it pretty easy to see. The trail switched back and forth until it came to an old woods road, which it follows most of the way down to Rt 173. I told Craig on the phone to let the others head out if they wanted, because we were going to take a bit longer.
When we reached 173, we turned right down the old road and right on Asbury West Portal Road back to the school to complete the hike.I was pretty happy with the turn out and our time of completion. We were done by 5:30, which was about 7.5 hours hiking as I had anticipated it should be (and we got a late start). I was glad Geoff was there to help me out, or things would have been a lot more difficult. Of course, it was cool to be "on the clock" getting paid to do what I love again, and I was glad that Geoff was able to get in on that too. We have no interpretive staff, and I wish we could pick up the slack for that more often.
Matt, Captain Soup, Eric, and I met up with Bill Honachefsky in Clinton for dinner to close out a very nice night. I wish I could have invited my other comrades, but hopefully this type of thing will happen more often.
As for the regular Metrotrails hikes, participation is up, and I foresee 2013 being a big year for the group in many ways.
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