I grew up in Jersey and moved to New England around 50 years ago. My senior year in HS we moved north and west of the area close to the Palisades Interstate Park and Long Path I mentioned to a town not far south of where you were hiking. That forrest is between the two
Greenwood Lakes that I visited often as a younger child but by the time I'd moved us older kids from that area would head to the
NY end of the main lake as it was loaded with bars that catered to NJ teens taking advantage of the younger drinking age in that state.
Still, it's a nice area and as crowded as much of Jersey is, most people not familiar don't realize how much wild, hilly, and undeveloped woodland there is in the northern reaches of the state.
Back on topic, I'd thought about carrying my blue Biryukov today but was seduced by my Voron and its new bead which abides closeby in my Russian drawer. I carried it with me grocery shopping earlier, but when I got home pulled out the other knife too and can fondle both while watching the Celts/Sixers game.