tried out a new trail last week.

[JV3]

last year this was barely a trickle but now it's definitely moving.

more ankle-rolling terrain.

the new trail...i took the opposite trail last year but decided to cross the stream...holy moly it's freaking steep!

not sure how others are but a 700' elevation change in less than a mile i'm going to be on my hands and knees climbing it...i'm no mountain goat.

finally reached the top...still freaking bleak...i didn't see any budding leaves at all. i'm really sick of winter, i want to see some green!

noticed a bronze marker.

...close up. still can't tell what it is.

some rock formations with a potential decent shelter. i didn't feel like climbing down to inspect it but maybe next time.

2 hrs into it and i hit my goal for the day - find an out of the way spot with fast moving water for future overnighters.

looks like i'm not the only one who likes this spot. the insanely steep terrain insures the casual beer bottle carrying hikers are nowhere to be found here though...i didn't see a single broken bottle or any kind of trash for that matter

tons of dead fall too...sweet.

rocky terrain is a perfect environment for rattlers though. this might be the trail where beanbag posted a rattler encounter previously...or very close to the area. another reason i was hesitant while climbing up on my hands and knees - i'll be face to face to one basking in the sun but it was very cloudy that day so very little/no risk.

...end part 1 of 2.

 

[JV3]

time to head back down.

a fast moving spring straight out of the ground.

one of the hairy sections - i came back down straight from the top there.

i'm not going back here without a small section of climbing-spec rope or webbing to wrap around the tree - just something to grab onto while going down...i know, i know, climbing is dangerous, etc...i'm not going to rappel down with it or anything. it'll just be a confidence rope to stop myself from sliding all the way down if i slip and lose my footing.

straight down...the easiest section is still pretty hairy...a little drizzle and mud and i'd probably opt to stay the night rather than risk it without a climbing rope.

...since this is where i'll be landing if i slip down

time to watch some youtube vids about rappeling and go back there and test it out

...end of part 2 of 2.

 

[Ferrousknight]

Where is this? The terrain looks a lot like high mountain park preserve in Wayne, but other details don't match up. I'd guess that I'm at least in the right part of Jersey. If you want non-desolate, go do the stairway to heaven portion of the AT (which is in Jersey, but barely) and walk the boardwalk portion before you get to the lot for the stairway along 94. There are lots of wildflowers. Plus the view from pinwheel vista is spectacular. Bring waterproof boots. It is rather wet and muddy though.

 

[kgd]

Great trip report. Its always hard to give the perspective of height on terrain unless its a 90 degree cliff edge. However, your photos do capture the essence of it. I always thought it was a good idea that they made beer so heavy. Seems to keep a nice perimeter around the bigger trails

 

[kvaughn]

That brass marker is a U.S. Geological Service marker>--KV

 

[WILLIAM.M]

Thanks for posting

 

[tknife]

Those are great pics, and it looks like you found a really nice new trail. I love the contrast with the rocky terrain, water and trees :thumbup:

 

[TheGame]

Looks like some pretty nasty climbing terrain there. :thumbup:

Thanks for posting.

 

[nokia]

looks like it was fun! i wouldn't mind going and testing that out if im ever in your area.

 

[6shooter]

Awesome pics! Nice looking area up top for a campout too, good find.

 

[fugawee]

Fantastic pictures!
Thanks for taking me on your hike!
I know its a lot of work to post all those pics,
we appreciate it. :thumbup:

 

[Mistwalker]

Awesome pics! In a way it's a lot like looking at my own woods down here.

 

[JV3]

Where is this? The terrain looks a lot like high mountain park preserve in Wayne, but other details don't match up. I'd guess that I'm at least in the right part of Jersey. If you want non-desolate, go do the stairway to heaven portion of the AT (which is in Jersey, but barely) and walk the boardwalk portion before you get to the lot for the stairway along 94. There are lots of wildflowers. Plus the view from pinwheel vista is spectacular. Bring waterproof boots. It is rather wet and muddy though.

this was in harriman state park. i work in wayne/fairfield for a few years now, i never realized there's a preserve there. i gotta check out my trail maps again although they only cover state parks i think so that's probably why. i do know there's "tourne" - a mountain bike trail there but we've never tried it yet.

thanks for the trail leads. yeah, almost every time i hike i try to check out a brand new trail so i'll put that on the list.

Great trip report. Its always hard to give the perspective of height on terrain unless its a 90 degree cliff edge. However, your photos do capture the essence of it. I always thought it was a good idea that they made beer so heavy. Seems to keep a nice perimeter around the bigger trails

thanks. there were a few times where it could've been a pic of me all bloodied up to show the result of the steep terrain i think part of it was also my pack weight (around 35 lbs wet) causing me to be top heavy. maybe some day when i'm bored of knives and all i pack in is just a sak or 4" one (instead of the usual 4-7 to play with) will i hike ultralight.

That brass marker is a U.S. Geological Service marker>--KV

cool, thanks. good to know since this is the first time i've encountered one.

Thanks for posting

you're welcome, sir.

Those are great pics, and it looks like you found a really nice new trail. I love the contrast with the rocky terrain, water and trees :thumbup:

thanks! we went mountain biking earlier today (a different state park but only about 10 mi or so away from there) and it's amazing how much green showed up in just a week!

here's the only pic we took when we were at the parking lot...that area went from dead of winter to spring leaves sprouting out in a week...amazing how quickly life comes out of hibernation...this park is notorious for black bears but we didn't spot any though.

Looks like some pretty nasty climbing terrain there. :thumbup:

Thanks for posting.

you're welcome. truth be told i'm better at climbing with a mountain bike than on foot so that might just be it.

looks like it was fun! i wouldn't mind going and testing that out if im ever in your area.

definitely. i'm easily bribed to be a cheap tour guide in exchange for bourbon

Awesome pics! Nice looking area up top for a campout too, good find.

thanks! no knife pics though. honestly, that steep climb early on was on the back of my mind the whole time i ended up not setting up camp and playing with knives. i was worrying how the heck i was going to come back down since i barely made it up to begin with...dumb i know, i should've stopped and took a different trail for now...my urge to explore just overpowered me.

Fantastic pictures!
Thanks for taking me on your hike!
I know its a lot of work to post all those pics,
we appreciate it. :thumbup:

thanks! i've learned a ton from this forum so i'm just doing my small part to provide entertainment for you guys as thanks...promise, i'll have knife pics next time

Awesome pics! In a way it's a lot like looking at my own woods down here.

thanks, bro. i really liked this particular trail - lots of elevation changes and lots of streams. best part is the parking lot is shared with an equestrian center...never know when i might come across a rich, hottie sick of eating caviar and cruising on a yacht all day finds me with dirty fingernails and reeking of camp fire very attractive