DIRECTIONS:
GPS Coordinates 41.007765, -74.586098
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The parking lot was empty at 7:30 AM, almost full at 11:30 AM then cleared out quickly when it started to rain.
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TRAIL MAP:
Jersey Highlands Trail Map 126 - NYNJ Trail Conference (The current 2016 version does not show the reroute but the new edition currently in the works probably will.)
HIKE DISTANCE: 8.5 miles
PEAK BAGGING:
THE HIKE:
Because of Super Hero family Halloween obligations on the previously sunny day ...
... hiking day had to be on Sunday, a cloudy, dreary day with rain to start at noon. This called for a shorter hike nearby so I headed out to Mahlon Dickerson Reservation to hike a section of the Highlands Trail that I had not hiked before. All year long I have been avoiding popular parks but I figured with not so good weather and foliage past peak, it might be a good time to revisit this usually busy park. Even though the parking lot was packed at the end of my hike when the rain started I ran into only a handful of other people while out on the trails.
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From the parking lot we started on the Highlands Trail connector along Saffin Pond.
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Saffin Pond
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Beaver tooth marks.
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At the end of the connector trail, left on the teal-blazed Highlands Trail.
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At the point where the Highlands Trail would have turned right, the part I had not yet hiked and wanted to hike this time ...
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... it turned left instead following a route I had hiked previously. Bummer!
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The Highlands Trail now on a short section that used to be an unmarked trail heading towards the yellow trail.
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Where the Highlands Trail turns right on yellow, there is a hard right on a blue trail that I had not hiked before. On to the blue trail which should meet up to the south where the Highlands Trail used to be.
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At one point the blue trail almost touches on the old Highlands Trail to the right.
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At the end of blue where what was previously the Highlands Trail. More signs that say the trail to the right is closed, the trail to the left is now an extension of the white-blazed Beaver Brook Trail. We turned left.
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Here is where the Highlands Trail used to turn left heading north. Another closed sign and the blazes blacked out. White turns right but straight ahead ...
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... an unmarked trail with blacked out blazes that should take us over to yellow.
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Looks like this might have been a red-blazed trail at some point.
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It's apparently still used because it's well-defined and easy to follow even with heavy leaf drop.
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The unmarked trail does run right into yellow where we turned left.
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Meeting back up with the Highlands Trail where we turned right.
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Lake Hopatcong from Headley Overlook
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Crossing Weldon Road
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Through the picnic area parking lot.
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Left on white leaving the Highlands Trail.
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Then left on blue ...
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... through the RV camping area.
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Out of the gabillions of birds around, this blurry downy is the only one I got.
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Leaving blue to rejoin white.
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In this pine section right before Pine Swamp ...
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... left on orange.
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Several mountain bikers passed along this section.
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At the end of orange, left on the Ogden Mine Railroad trail.
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It was at this point, right at the pond before Weldon Road ...
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... that it started to pour.
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The parking lot was packed but it was only a matter of minutes before it cleared out, everyone racing to their cars to get out of the rain.
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Balloons #61, #62 and #63 of the year removed from Mahlon Dickerson Reservation.
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