Take a Hike!

At 9:00 AM on June 3rd we'll head to the Kittatiny's to tackle Buttermilk Falls, Crater Lake, and Hemlock Pond.  At 200 feet, the Falls are the tallest in New Jersey and the two lake's are nestled in along each side of a ridge line that is home to a section of the Appalachian trail. Please note a small portion of this trail is rated difficult, solely for the elevation gain and not the terrain.  The climb to the Appalachian Trail is over 1,100 feet over the course of 1.4 miles. Please contact Jeff Carlson (jc1372) by May 29th if you are interested in joining us. Difficulty - Challenging at the onset, Moderate for the balance Length - 7.5 miles Elevation Gain - ~ 1,500 feet Expected Duration - 4-6 hours Park Trail Map Our Route Parking Location - Mountain Road, Layton, NJ (41.137023, -74.889123).  See note below. Restrooms - via NJHiking.com :   None at the Falls parking. If you approach from Rt. 206, there are outhouses at the two Tillman Ravine pa...

Hike #2 proved to be more challenging than expected, but hopefully it was more rewarding as well.  We beat the forecasters and ended up with fairly nice weather as the rain held out until later in the afternoon, after we were finished.  In all, 5 of us made the hike which was anywhere between 7.2 and 9.2 miles long, depending upon the tracking software we utilized.  Either way, it was longer than I predicted and we'll double and triple check distances going forward. Some quick highlights and lessons learned: The route was definitely slick and three of us, including yours truly, took a spill.  Always check your footing! Beware of scraggly looking raccoons that are out during the day and not afraid of people. Enjoy the small things - colorful centipede's, orange newt's, and spring wildflowers. And the big - Wyanokie High Point, Carris Hill, Chikahoki Falls, and rock hopping along a stream bed and the surrounding wetlands. But bring bug spray, especially in ...