The last time we hiked in the Pequannock Watershed I nearly stepped on a huge rattlesnake. Today I nearly
stepped on two baby snapping turtles! So the scale of danger I'm encountering is improving! We returned to Hank's Pond which we last visited in
June, 2007.
Today we parked at P1, near the trailhead gate for Hank's East Trail (at the intersection of Clinton Road and Van Orden Road) and headed north along Hank's East. Instead of following the trail along the eastern bank we continued on a woods road to the pond, then picked up the blue-white Hank's West Trail taking it north of the pond. We proceeded east on a short stretch of a blue connector trail, climbing steeply, then took Hank's East north along the ridge. At the interesection with the Highlands Trail we took that east, beginning the part of the hike which was completely new for us. When we got to Union Valley Road, instead of following the trail which actually uses the road, we crossed the road onto a woods road which we took to a powerline cut and then headed south all along that cut back to Van Orden Road. After a short road walk (not a single car passed) we arrived back at P1. Powerline cuts may not be the most picturesque places to hike, but they are filled with flowers, fauna and wildlife. Today we saw two baby snapping turtles in the cut and a flock of at least two dozen wild turkeys. Vultures and red-tailed hawks also made appearances. Sadly we also encountered a dead ground hog near the end. Total distance hiked today was 6.7 miles in just over 3 hours. A permit is required for hiking in this area, which can be purchased at the office on Echo Lake Road. The permits are good for the calendar year.
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View from P1 |
Gate and trailhead |
Horse poop! |
Hank's Pond |
Wildflowers on bank |
View NW |
View north |
Laura on southern bank |
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Pipe on ... |
... woods road |
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Woods road skirts pond |
View of opposite bank |
View south |
Early foliage |
Abandoned shack ... |
... on Hank's West Trail |
Chimney |
Chimney |
Hank's Pond looking south |
Remains of ... |
... furnace? |
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Ant hill on Blue connector |
Ferns |
Tight squeeze |
Climbing on Blue connector |
Two millipedes |
Fleeing eft |
Yellow leaves! |
Back on ... |
... Hank's East trail |
Climbing |
Pine needles on ridge |
Narrow stretch |
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Cairn [photo by Laura] |
Fall foliage begins! |
Boulders |
Shale ridden trail |
View from Highlands trail |
Pine needles on HT |
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Sharp shale on HT |
Beautiful little lane |
Crossing Union Valley Road |
Swamp in powerline cut |
Multi-trunked tree [photo by Laura] |
In the powerline cut |
Wildflowers always ... |
abound in the cut |
Dry mud |
Smelling the herbs |
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Adorable baby snapping turtle |
His brother |
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Pylon vultures preening |
Part of a huge rafter of wild turkeys |
Hawk peeking |
Early fall foliage |
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Look at that ... |
... early foliage! |
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We heard lots of shooting |
Red-tailed hawk |
Partial view south |
Rocky cut |
Ascending through ... |
... the last pylon |
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Dead ground hog |
Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |