Saturday, August 13, 2022

Appalachian Trail, NJ - Mohican to Fairview Lake to Rattlesnake Swamp

ABOUT THE PARK:
Appalachian Trail in New Jersey - Appalachian Trail Conservancy

DIRECTIONS: 
GPS Coordinates 41.035822, -74.999972
Parking at the Mohican Outdoor Center.  The lot is pretty full at 7 AM but there were still several spots available.

TRAIL MAP: 


HIKE DISTANCE: 13.1 miles

THE HIKE: 
From the parking lot a left on the gravel road ...
... passing by Catfish Pond all the way to ...
... the picnic table at the building where the gravel road veers left.
This is the trail head for the Rattlesnake Swamp Trail.
At the split we veered right and would be returning from the left.
It's a rocky climb up.
At the top, the Appalachian Trail and incredible views.
Heading north on the AT.
Multiple views along the way.
Coming up on the Catfish Fire Tower.
After the fire tower the AT follows the fire road.
Look who is coming!
It's the fire lookout on his way to his post at the Catfish Fire Tower.  He stopped to say hello and we chatted for a bit.
He gave me some cards commemorating 100 years of the Catfish Fire Tower.  He also told me where to find a running spring that Brodie could drink from since he prefers that over the water I haul for him.
The AT leaves to the left and rejoins the fire road again but I had already hiked that part so we stayed with the less rocky fire road.
Back on the AT.
The AT rejoins the fire road again and stays with the fire road ...
... all the way to Millbrook Road.
A left on Millbrook Road and a short road walk to a right turn into a small parking area and into the woods.
Coming up on Beaver Pond.
After the pond the trail ascends through a rocky area.
Through a power cut ...
... with views to the west.
A little higher up ...
... to views to the east.
Busy Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco and Sand Pond down below.
To the far left I could see the Catfish Fire Tower.
Zooming in I could see our new lookout friend in tower.
The AT becomes less rocky continuing north.
Prairie Warbler
I head intended to turn around at about the 5.5 mile point but the trail had become so smooth which made for very easy hiking and the weather was so gorgeous (low humidity and in the 70's) that I just had to keep going.
We ended up going all the way to the side trail to the overlook over Fairview Lake.
We found a small spot of shade for a mid-point break.
Heading back.
Belted Kingfisher
When the AT left the fire road to the left, we stayed with the fire road ...
... to that spring where Brodie got a long drink of water.  He never drinks that much when we stop for frequent breaks.  This tastes to much better.
Right from the fire road onto the Rattlesnake Swamp Trail.
There is not much swamp to see.
It's mostly through rhododendron tunnel which should be gorgeous in July.
This trail is pretty rocky.  I was missing that nice smooth part of the AT.
Meeting up at the Rattlesnake Swamp Trail split from the beginning of the hike and keeping right.
Back on the gravel road along Catfish Pond to the parking lot.

Birds not seen but heard with the Merlin Bird Sound ID app:
  • Black-and-white Warbler
  • Eastern Wood Pewee
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Back-capped Chickadee
  • Hooded Warbler
  • Tufted Titmouse
  • Field Sparrow
  • Red-eyed Vireo
  • American Goldfinch
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