Mount Tammany, January 12, 2013, Worthington State Forest

Mount Minsi, from Tammany Summit

Although the state doesn't have any 4,000-foot mountains, there are some very picturesque outdoor areas in New Jersey. The Delaware Water Gap is one of them. The Appalachian Mountain Club, or AMC, runs their Mohican Outdoor Center here, offering programs, tent sites, and cabins to its members and providing a nice jumping off point for section hikes on the Appalachian Trail.

Mount Tammany, named for a Lenni Lenape chieftain, is one of the two prominent peaks in the Water Gap, offering nice vistas across the Delaware River to Mount Minsi - its partner peak on the Pennsylvania side. In the winter months, when the White Mountains and Adirondacks become less accessible, Mount Tammany is a good option for an ascendant outing. It is wise to hike these trails early, as they get heavy use. The off-season is definitely the time to go. Early morning hiking in the winter, though, means a chance for ice on the trails and fog-enshrouded summit views.

We encountered both. Snow-covered with sporadic ice patches, the rocky trail called for yak tracks or microspikes. We had neither. The red dot trail up to Mount Tammany is short and steep, covering about 1,200 feet of vertical rise, followed by a gradual, but rocky, descent down the blue dot trail. Despite the conditions, it was certainly not impossible.

We made it to the summit fairly quickly and enjoyed a leisurely lunch on some brand-spanking new (in a sense) trail seats that K had re-purposed from a feed back we found down in the Pinelands.

Nothing better than a dry rear end on a cold day in the woods.

Feed Bag Turned Trail Seat

Peak: Mount Tammany
Elevation: 1,526 Feet (Gain: 1,200)
Distance: 3.5 miles, circuit
Route: Red Dot Trail; Blue Dot Trail; Appalachian Trail
Conditions: Dense Fog, 40 degrees F

Into the Fog Hole

Mount Misery, January 6, 2013, Brendan Byrne State Forest - The Pinelands

Cranberry Bog en route to Mt. Misery

Mount Misery, despite the name, isn't a peak hike at all. It is actually no more than an almost-imperceptible hill. In southern New Jersey, things called "mount" - Mount Holly, Mount Laurel, Mount Misery - are simply the highest points in an otherwise overwhelmingly flat part of the state. The creeks and little rivers on one side of this low-altitude New Jersey spine drain to the Delaware River; those on the other to the Atlantic Ocean.

The hike to Mount Misery, however, has the potential to provide a feeling of wilderness seclusion in one of the most densely-populated states in the country. And if piney woods are your thing, there is no place quite like the Pinelands. The added bonus with any New Jersey hike is the potential for bird sightings... The state, mainly because of its location on migratory paths, is an absolute haven for birders. We caught sight (and sound) of a huge gaggle of tundra swans as they rambunctiously splashed around in one of the many cranberry bogs here. Sadly, we forgot the binoculars once again.

Down on the Bog

The trails in Brendan Byrne State Forest - named for a conservation-minded former governor - are pretty well marked. From the ranger station, we simply took the red trail towards Pakim Pond. At 2 miles, we veered off the red trail onto the white trail - aka Mount Misery Trail - and followed it to the "top." Cranberry bogs, pine trees, and long, straight hiking paths provide most of the scenery until you reach Mount Misery, which is still occupied by the buildings of a former CCC camp turned Methodist retreat. We had designs on the loop trail around to Pakim pond, but decided to turn it into an up and back as the day was getting later and trail use, therefore, getting heavier.

Destination: Mount Misery
Distance: 10.5 miles, out and back
Elevation Gain: Nominal
Conditions: Sunny, 38 degrees F
Route: Cranberry Trail (Red), Mt. Misery Trail (White)

 

Deep Pool

Swirling Current

Sunfish Pond, December 2, 2012, Worthington State Forest

It's hard to fathom that Sunfish Pond, a higher elevation glacial lake in one of the most beautiful forests in New Jersey, was once in danger of extinction. Forty years ago, power companies had designs on damming the Delaware River at the Water Gap and setting up a mini reservoir system, which would have meant an end to Sunfish Pond. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, led by a grassroots New Jersey-based conservation group called the Lenni Lenape League, and Sunfish Pond remains as one of the best day hikes in the entire region.

K and I hiked up to Sunfish Pond - which is located on the Appalachian Trail - on a cold, foggy Sunday morning. In these parts, you HAVE to hit the trail early or risk running into hoards of people - even in the off season. Some parts of the Water Gap region see few hikers. Sunfish Pond is not one of them.

Sunfish Rules

By staying overnight nearby, we were able to hit the trail soon after sun up. Seeing only two cars in the parking lot of I-80 was a harbinger of good things to come. On the way up, we only encountered four hikers - all of whom were going in the opposite direction - and had the trail pretty much to ourselves. The Appalahian Trail here is a gradual ascent up to Sunfish Pond and the early morning fog made for some eerie, yet attractive views into the dense forest. A sighting of a pileated woodpecker bouncing around in and out of the fog was an added bonus.

Appalachian Trail to Sunfish

At the pond, we had the lone bench all to ourselves and broke for a leisurely lunch and thermos of coffee. Not a single hiker arrived at the pond during our lunch break, enhancing the peace and quiet of a special place.

Dunnfield Creek Trail

Although planned as an up and back, we decided to turn our hike into a loop and returned via Dunnfield Creek Trail, aka Dunnfield Hollow Trail, which descends along the creek and requires quite a few fords along the way.

Destination: Sunfish Pond
Distance: 8 miles up and back
Elevation: 1,379 feet Gain: 1,200 feet
Route: Appalachian Trail, Dunnfield Creek Trail
Conditions: Fog, 40 degrees F