Wow this winter has been brutal! New Jersey got at least three big snow storms since our last hike (February 1). I lost track of how many inches we got but I'd guess
that in Northern New Jersey there were areas that got over 20 inches in the past two weeks. Going stir crazy, and knowing that it's going to snow again tomorrow
(8 inches more) we decided to get out there no matter what. So we visited this wonderful reserve in Mercer County where we trudged along in the snow (up to our
knees at times) but enjoyed the absolutely gorgeous weather. There wasn't a cloud in the sky.
Using this map, we parked at the main lot off Titus Mill Road in front of the beautiful visitor's center (closed for President's Day). We headed east to the porta-johns and picked up the Red trail behind them. We followed the Red trail east, then north along an open field, then east along the northern border of the field before entering the woods and then heading east on an unmarked trail to the parking area on Wargo Road (the pull-off wasn't plowed). We next headed NW on another unmarked trail to the southern bank of the completely frozen pond, and followed Red around the pond in a counter-clockwise direction. Continuing on Red we passed the barn for summer camp, two picturesque silos and then began skirting the restored meadow on its northern border. We missed the southern turn on Red (which is right two deck chairs are placed, facing north) and continued east. This trail is not on the official reserve map but we continued for quite a bit until we realized we were heading the wrong direction. We turned back, headed west to the chairs and then continued south at the chairs. We then took Red back to the car, through the backyard of the visitor's center. Total distance hiked today was exactly 3 miles in over 2 hours ahd 40 minutes. Yes, that's about 1 MPH, surprisingly fast given the deep snow on the majority of the trails.
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Old wind vane tower |
Snowy and icy parking lot |
Beautiful visitor's center |
Eastern bluebird |
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Visitor's Center |
Finding trail behind barn |
Old tractor |
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NO access today! |
Plant cage |
Behind barn on Red |
Buried trail map! |
Western edge of field |
Narrow path |
Looking back |
Buried boardwalk! |
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Outdoor poetry |
Into the woods |
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Farm east |
Inviting path |
Not sinking much [photo by Laura] |
Two vultures roosting ... |
... on farm fence posts |
Farm east |
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Deep prints |
That's a stream! |
Up to my knees! [photo by Laura] |
Trailhead at Wargo Road |
Sign at Wargo Road |
Eastern side of ... |
... frozen pond |
Sumac |
Frozen pond |
Cedar forest |
No herons today! |
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Poor bird! |
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Bridge over ... |
... Honey Brook |
Informative sign |
Dan on bridge [photo by Laura] |
Frozen pond |
From southern bank |
Bird blind at pond |
Laura at blind |
Heading to barn |
Hermit Thrush |
Summer camp barn |
Silos |
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Red trail near silos |
Northern border of restored meadow |
Laura's new jacket |
Deck chairs at open field |
Heading west on path not on map |
Laura's favorite tree ... |
... the shagbark hickory |
Crossing brook |
Frozen brook |
Behind visitor's center |
Rear of visitor's center |
Downy woodpecker |
Laura at visitor's center |
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