This is Hike #6 ("Tripod Rock") in the book
Best Easy Day Hike: Northeast New Jersey. This hiking area is one of the closest to where we live, and though we've been here several times in the past, the last
time was over three years ago. So on this beautiful sunny MLK Jr.'s Birthday, we headed over to see Tripod Rock once again. The new trail map, available at a kiosk
in the parking lot, shows a few new trails as well as trail re-routings since our last visit. So we'll probably have to hit this area up again soon.
One of the highlights today was stumbling upon a vulture feasting on the carcass of a raccoon, right on the trail, as a red-tail hawk soared overhead and then took to a tree branch to watch us. Total distance today was about 4.8 miles in over 2.5 hours.
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On the Mennen trail |
Stony Brook |
Bridge over Stony Brook |
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Some trees grow anywhere! |
Powerline cut |
[Photo by Laura] |
Cut looking south |
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Houses off the red trail |
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Crossing Bearhouse Brook |
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Dwarfed by Bear Rock |
Bear Rock |
Trying to move it [photo by Laura] |
White trail along a swamp |
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Pileated woodpecker at work |
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Turkey vulture |
Red-tailed hawk |
Raccoon remains |
The birds were feasting here |
Starting the climb |
On the Red/White trail |
Some steep parts |
Parial view west |
Houses on the ridge |
Very interesting rock |
Frozen swamp |
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At Tripod Rock |
More glacial errata nearby |
[Photo by Laura] |
Close inspection |
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Rhododendron |
View from Lucy's Overlook |
View west of powerline |
Farm off in the distance |
On Lucy's overlook |
Icy trail |
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View east |
Frozen private lake |
Manhattan skyline |
[Photo by Laura] |
Beautiful view east |
Small makeshift lean-to |
Large cairn |
Powerline cut |
Bridge over Stony Brook |
Cleaning our hiking shoes |
Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |