Hiking Mount Tammany (Bucket List - check)

A Panoramic View from Mount Tammany

Mount Tammany

If you have traveled along Route 80 between New Jersey and Pennsylvania, you have seen Mount Tammany but may not have known it's name. It is the huge chunk of rock on the New Jersey side of the Delaware Water Gap; Mount Minsi is on the Pennsylvania side. The Delaware Water Gap is a true treasure and a place that I will never cease to be in awe of.

Joey Enjoying the View

In the past I have twice tried hiking to the summit of Mount Tammany only to be turned away. If memory serves me the first time was in 1985 - this was to be an overnight camping trip with a friend but shortly after we began our trek up the Red Dot Trail he became ill and we had to turn back. I returned a few years later (1988? 1989?) to attempt a solo camp-out only to injure my knee, again on the Red Dot Trail, and needing someone to help me back to the car. I vowed that, one day, I would make it to the top. I finally made it last Friday and this post is all about the adventure. There are a few routes to the top of the mountain but the most popular would be the Red Dot Trail up and the Blue Blaze Trail on the way down. The last half-mile follows Dunnfield Creek trail. This is the recommended route since the Red Dot Trail can be very difficult to navigate on the way down. I was accompanied by my son, Joey, on this trip and I don't think I would have been successful without him.

Looking Down the Red Dot Trail

The Trails

The Red Dot Trail

The Red Dot Trail is a very challenging trail with steep climbs and more than a few rock scrambles. It is about 1.5 miles to the summit of Mount Tammany along this route with a change in elevation of more than 1,200 feet. The trail is almost entirely rock once you get past the stairs at the beginning of the trail. Fortunately, it is solid rock and it doesn't move when you step on it.

The Blue Blaze Trail

The Blue Blaze Trail is 1.7 miles, again, with an elevation change of more than 1,200 feet. The trail isn't as challenging as the Red Dot but it has it's own challenges. The trail is not as rocky as the Red Dot but a lot of the rocks are loose and there is a good layer of leaves to go along with them. This makes the footing a bit tricky at times when a rock moves under foot or you step on some leaves onto the point of a rock. You also have to work hard to maintain control because gravity wants to get you to the bottom far faster than is safe.

Dunnfield Creek Trail

The Dunnfield Creek Trail connects the Blue Blaze Trail to the parking lot. I had hiked this trail once before, in November 2018, and wrote about it for my other blog. If you want to learn more about the trail, check out A Brief Hike Along the Appalachian Trail

Steep and not much room for error

The Hike

The Ascent - Red Dot Trail

When we arrived at the parking lot it was almost 3/4 full and it was only a bit past 11:00 in the morning. I was very surprised to find that many people on a Friday morning. I stopped along the way to pick up some granola bars and snack crackers to eat along the way so we stashed them in our packs, checked to be sure we had enough Propel¹ and were on the trail by 11:20 AM. Earlier I mentioned that I don't think I would have been successful were my son not with me and I meant it. To backtrack a little, I went hiking at Turkey Swamp Park the day before and my knees were a bit sore from that hike; I probably would have changed my destination to a less challenging one if I were going alone. We had planned this hike for a couple weeks and I wasn't going to back out now. The beginning of the trail is a steep series of steps created with, what appear to be, railroad ties. I had climbed about 50 or 60 yards (I'm guessing) when my legs got a bit tired. This was, in part, due to the soreness of my knees but also the weight of the pack and the fact that I am not as fit as I thought I was. It was about 10 minutes into the hike that I began to wonder how I was ever going to get back to the car but was determined not to quit this time - we were getting to the top!

The Delaware River

I took the lead, cautiously picking a path along the rocks while keeping an eye out for snakes🐍. Yes, there are snakes in the woods, and bears🐻, more about that later. The trail was steep but the ground solid so there was no fear of sliding. To my surprise, there was a good amount of traffic going down the trail; when someone approached I stepped to the side, letting them by while also taking a brief break. It wasn't too long before we can to a spot that I thought might be the clincher; a solid wall of rock, about five or six feet high and no way to hike around it. I looked at Joey and then back at the rock. We found some ridges in the rock that we could step on and carefully made our way to the top of it. The rest of the way to the top was just finding the easiest route thru the rocks. I had a few criteria for the route - minimal step up height was primary but I was also staying away from anything that looked like a good place for snakes.

This is the top. Right?

We finally saw a clearing and when we stepped out of the woods the view was breathtaking. This was, I thought, the peak; the hardest part of the journey is behind us. We took our packs off, had a drink and I took out my camera and tripod. This was also a good time to eat a bit. The image, Joey Enjoying the View, was captured at this spot. I also shot, The Delaware River, at this location. While I was looking for compositions, Joey chatted with a young couple sitting on a nearby rock. They said that, shortly before our arrival, a Cessna flew thru the valley at just about eye level - about 1,400 feet. We were there for about 15 or 20 minutes before I grabbed a quick picture of us with my phone and we got back on the trail for our descent, or so we thought.

We were wrong.... We had about another 20 minutes or so before reaching the summit and another spectacular view of the Gap.

The Descent - Blue Blaze Trail

We rested at the summit for a short time before reaching the Blue Blaze Trail and the way down. As I mentioned earlier, going down turned out to be almost as challenging as going up due to loose rocks, leaves and gravity. It was also due, in no small part, to my physical condition and the fact that my legs were turning into rubber.... There are no grand vistas to take in on the way down but you are surrounded by thickening forest and it's natural beauty. As Lord Byron once wrote, "There is pleasure in the pathless woods...." and while we were not in a "pathless woods" I can't think of many places more pleasureful and peaceful.

We stopped more often on the way down for a couple of reasons, not the least of which was to give my legs a bit of a rest. We got passed by many people and while I admired their tirelessness I also thought they were missing out on the experience. I know that many make this hike a part of their routine and have probably hiked it as many times as I have the woods in my backyard but there is always something new to be experienced if you are willing to open yourself to your surroundings. I hope a hike in the woods never gets to be "routine" or simply exercise; I want to experience every hike as though it was my first time.

I didn't take my camera out of the bag on our way down, woodland photography is an art all it's own and not one that I am particularly skilled at. I was also anxious to get to Dunnfield Creek and the waterfall. There were more than a few times when I saw a bend in the trail and thought we would see the footbridge over Dunnfield Creek when we got to it, only to learn that I was mistaken. We had come to a few of these bends before Joey stopped and said that he heard water. That's it!

Dunnfield Creek
smartphone from bench

Dunnfield Creek Trail

We finally made it to Dunnfield Creek and we settled down on a bench overlooking the falls and creek below. The water level was much lower than when I was there last (see A Brief Hike Along the Appalachian Trail) but it was truly a spectacular sight. It was at this point I grew frustrated with myself because I simply didn't have the energy to properly shoot the scene. I grabbed a couple images with my phone before we headed over the bridge and down the trail to the parking lot. It is a bit over a half-mile to the Dunnfield Creek trail head from here, relatively flat and easy going. There are some rocks and roots to contend with but the hike is one that just about anyone could handle without stress. It may also be the most beautiful section of the hike.

The creek is in view the entire way and there are countless small waterfalls and rapids but this is just part of the beauty. The area surrounding the creek is full of color from moss growing on rocks, the fallen leaves and other vegetation. The downside, from a photography standpoint, is that getting down to the water is no easy feat and, at times, not even a possibility. The last time I was there I found an outcropping of rocks that afforded a great view but we must have passed it before I thought to check it out again. We did find another area with a view, a somewhat more treacherous spot to get to but worthwhile. I made a note to stop there when I next hike the trail.

Dunnfield Creek
smartphone from footbridge

The End

After nearly four (4) hours of hiking (and time spent resting....) we reached the Dunnfield Creek trail head and parking lot. We made it! Well, we almost made it. When we got to the parking lot I realized that the smart hikers were parked in this lot but we still had a bit of hiking left because we parked in the Red Dot Trail lot. It isn't a great distance but it would have been wiser to park at Dunnfield. There is a sign signaling the Red Dot Trail trail head, accompanied by a sign to beware of the two (2) types of venomous snakes inhabiting the area. Immediately beyond the signs were lay the trail with a series of steps leading up - I was on level ground and didn't think another ascent, no matter how short, was going to go well so we opted for a slightly longer walk along the road.

We finally reached the parking lot but there was no sign of my car! I had been worrying about getting back to find the rear window broken out because I accidentally left a camera out - Joey was going to use my spare camera but I forgot to give it to him. I didn't realize this until we were to far along the trail to go back. While I was prepared to see a break-in, I wasn't prepared to find the car had been stolen! We both looked at each other, that was when I realized he thought the car was gone too. It turns out it was still there, a large pickup truck was parked next to us and completely blocked the car from our view. The camera was also right where I left it.

I was exhausted! Joey offered to drive but, having seen Disturbia more times than I can count, I told him I was okay to drive. (If you don't get the reference, I suggest watching the movie - a modern take on Rear Window.) We headed back along Rt 80 towards our reward - The After! I've written of The After before, a childhood favorite restaurant in Flanders that we introduced the kids to when my daughter started school in Pennsylvania. We don't get there as much since she graduated so it is regarded as a special treat. We had our dinner, I got my ice cream and then we headed for home. We arrived home some time around 7:00 PM, having left at a little past 9:00 AM, exhausted and filled with memories that will last a lifetime.

Bears 🐻 and Snakes 🐍

I mentioned bears and snakes earlier in the story and wanted to touch upon the subject before I finish. It is important to understand that this is bear country and the possibility of an encounter is ever-present. I wasn't too concerned on this trip due to the large number of people on the trail, the bears nature is to avoid human contact so it would have been very unusual for one to be anywhere in the area. The mountain is also home to New Jersey's only two (2) venomous snakes - the timber rattlesnake and copperhead. I have a friend who frequents Mount Tammany and just this year he has encountered rattlesnakes more than once. They love to get into crevices of rocks and so you should never put a hand or foot somewhere that you cannot see into. I would suggest reading about snakes and bears prior to visiting this area, know what to look for and what to do if you have an encounter - the life you safe may be your own.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about our adventure - I know I enjoyed reliving it while writing this and will relive the adventure, treasuring the memories, until my last breath.

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Notes:
¹ Propel is a zero-calorie sports drink and comes in a variety of flavors. If you're curious, we had Mandarin Orange and Black Cherry on this trip. 😉

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All photos are copyright Joseph S. Valencia All Rights Reserved They may not be used in any way without express written permission of the photographer. If you wish to use any of the photos you may contact the photographer at valencia32photo@gmail.com

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Emotion and Memory Triggers - What Makes You Happy? Sad?

Has this ever happened to you; you're sitting in your living room watching television when you suddenly feel yourself smiling for no apparent reason. Maybe you can no longer listen to a song you always loved. It could be a smell that elicits a fond memory or even a single word. These are just a few of what I call “emotional triggers” that can make you happy, sad, mad, nostalgic, etc.…. You may not even realize it; I know it happens to me sometimes. The funny thing is that the same trigger may make you happy one time and sad the next.

For me, smell seems to be the biggest trigger and it almost always brings me back to my youth. There are times when I’m not even sure the smell actually exists and that it is just a figment of my imagination. It is almost like I am subconsciously thinking of something and then my brain conjures up the smell, triggering the memory. I’m sure a psychiatrist would love to get me on a couch and analyze that!

The smell of lavender instantly brings memories of my maternal grandmother and the smell of a baked ham will always mean Easter at her house. The smell of pipe tobacco is a strong trigger – my great-uncle, Verner, smoked a pipe, as did my uncle, George, and my father-in-law, Mike. Now that I think of it, maybe the “phantom” smell isn’t so odd – I remember speaking with my great-aunt, Inez, shortly after Verner’s death and she told me that there were times when she would turn expecting to see him because she could smell his tobacco. Tomato sauce (yes – sauce, not gravy) cooking on the stove always reminds me of my mother making sauce on Sunday.

There is a certain smell or combination of smells, that reminds me of being at my Aunt Sissy’s house on a Sunday afternoon but I just can’t describe what it is, but I can tell you that whenever I eat a black olive or see a kid putting them on their fingers I am instantly drawn into her kitchen. That clean smell you get stepping outside on a morning when the grass is covered in dew – that brings me to Inez’s house and the time I spent there in the summer growing up.

There are verbal or audible triggers, too. If I am watching any sporting event and someone complains about a call, or lack thereof, I hear the words coming out of my mother-in-law, Joyce’s mouth. She was quite a passionate fan of the New York Giants and let the officials know when they weren’t doing their jobs – especially when the Dallas Cowboys were the opponent. The word “melancholy” brings mixed emotions – my grandmother told a story one time of when she was growing up; apparently she had quite a difficult time pronouncing the word and put the emphasis on the second syllable instead of the first. She told that story more than 40 years ago and it is the first thing I think of whenever I hear or read that word. If I hear “Lassie” or even the theme song I think of my children, the kids absolutely loved the 1994 movie and there were days when it might get played three times in a row! It would be on when we were building towers out of cardboard blocks or building something with the plastic Lego-style boxes that wipes came in. There are a lot of words that elicit memories of the children growing up – far too many to even count.

I mentioned songs in the introduction and there are plenty. I wrote about The Power of Music and how certain songs trigger very specific memories. I wrote in that post about Harry Chapin’s song, Circle, and that I cannot listen to it anymore, especially the live version. There are a couple reasons – the first being that Harry closed every show with that song; it contains the line “we’ll all be together again” but we won’t. The other reason is because it makes me think of friends and family who have died and it makes me sad. The other song I wrote about is Ringo Starr’s, Photograph. I loved that song growing up but since Ringo introduced it at The Concert for George; he said that since George died the song had new meaning and, like Circle, listening to it makes me melancholy. (Note: I just smiled when I wrote that – did not intend to use melancholy….)

Songs also trigger great memories like Pete Seeger singing There Was an Old Woman or Tom Chapin singing The Cousins are Coming and Bruno. These were songs that we listened to when the kids were young. We took them to see Pete Seeger perform at a Clearwater Festival at Sandy Hook when they were maybe 3 and 5. I printed a couple pictures and put something on them about how the kids loved Pete and we gave them to one of his stage hands after the show. We tried to meet him but they wouldn’t let us in. A week or so after the show a letter showed up addressed to the kids – it was from Pete! Can’t Help Falling in Love and In My Life are special songs; I proposed to my wife dancing to the former and our first dance after we were married was to the latter. I don’t dance anymore but don’t really have an option if they are played at a wedding reception or other event….

There are the visual triggers. My first car was a blue 1966 Chevy and whenever I see a blue car of that era I immediately think of it and Inez. The car was a gift from her; she promised it to me when she bought it, when I started to drive she would give it to me. Well, I had to wait almost two years after I started driving it but I finally got it. It was a four door, “three on the tree” and had no radio. I only had the car for a few months in 1978 when I was rear-ended at a stop sign. The car was totaled. This was just before Christmas and I was afraid of how she was going to take the news when I saw her. I don’t remember her reaction but we all got through it so it couldn’t have been too bad.

Watching the Little League World Series reminds me of my days playing Little League and then watching my son play. The same goes for the College Softball Championships – my daughter played softball and I have fond memories of watching both. If I see someone skiing I think back to the first time I ever skied – my wife and I went on a trip shortly after we started dating. I caught on fairly well and decided to go to an intermediate slope. We were taught how to snow plow in order to stop and it worked quite well. The problem is that I was going rather fast and when I tried to snow plow the tips of my skis crossed causing me to come to an abrupt stop – this is very much like applying only the front brake on a bicycle. I went tumbling head-over-heels before coming to a stop in a heap at the bottom of the hill. The goggles I was wearing had pulled away from my face long enough to get filled with snow and then go back in place. Embarrassing…

I also think of my wife whenever I see a clown or Harpo Marx. The first Halloween we were together she dressed as a clown and I had a picture of her on my desk at work. My co-workers had never met her and that was the only photo I had. She came into the office one day and when I introduced her one of them said “So, you are the clown.” I got a “look” until I showed her the photo on my desk. She was Harpo a year or two later.

I could go on for a long time, so many triggers to so many memories, but I think this is a good time to stop. What are your triggers? Let me know in the comments below.

The Power of Music

I love music! Whether I am listening to classic rock, classical guitar, bluegrass, jazz, folk, etc…. or playing it myself, I love music. I learned to play guitar when I was in the fourth grade and in sixth grade began playing classical guitar. I took lessons until sometime in high school when I got too busy to continue. I must admit, I got to be pretty good. I don’t play much anymore, I bought a guitar a while back when my kids wanted me to teach them and then bought a classical guitar in 2009 but usually only play when I get together with my friend, Dave. Dave writes songs and we get together every once-in-a-while and play some of his stuff - stay tuned, I will be writing about Dave in the coming weeks. I had learned a great finger-style version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and got to be competent with it a couple years back. Most of the time, though, my indulgence in music is as a spectator. My first choice would be The Beatles or maybe one of their solo efforts. I grew up listening to The Beatles and then to John, Paul, George and Ringo as solo artists. Just about every song has some memory attached to it. When I was growing up my siblings and I would spend two (2) weeks every summer in Flanders, New Jersey visiting our Great-Aunt Inez. These two weeks were always the highlight of my summer. There were some summers when we would go camping with my Great-Aunt Viola and her husband and I seem to remember my grandmother being on at least one of the trips. You see, Viola and her husband had a Winnebago that they traveled all over the country in and a few times we took a short trip with them. It is one such trip that comes to mind whenever I hear “I Want to Hold Your Hand.” One of our favorite games to play was Hangman and we were playing one afternoon at the campsite, listening to the radio. “I Want to Hold Your Hand” came on the radio while we were playing. Shortly afterward it was my turn to guess the phrase that Inez was thinking of. I failed…. When time came to unveil the answer it was “I Wanna Hole Your Han.” I told her that wasn’t right but she insisted that is what they were saying. All these years later and I can remember it almost like it was yesterday and it never fails to bring a smile to my face. That is the power of music.

There was a pizzeria in Little Silver that my friend, Lenny, and I would go to that had a jukebox. I remember listening to “Helen Wheels” by Wings while having a few slices of pizza. “Mind Games” brings me back to a friend’s birthday party when I was 16 years old. She had asked me to bring some records with me and “Mind Games”, the album, was one of them. We were outside listening to music, laughing and having a good time. The song was playing and I heard something like “watch this” and the next thing I know one of the girls pulls me over and plants a big kiss on my cheek as someone takes a picture. It was a year or so later that we dated for a while and are friends to this day. George Harrison’s “Crackerbox Palace” brings me back to high school and a varsity basketball game but I honestly don’t know why. I vaguely remember helping a friend, Jeff, with something and he bought me “Thirty Three & 1/3” to thank me but that might not be right. “Las Brisas” by Ringo Starr also brings me back to high school but I think of a friend, Andy. Details, once again, are a bit sketchy but I remember singing it and when I got to “yo te amo” he turned to me and said that he liked me too but not that way. Andy later became employed by WPLJ-FM in New York but sadly died of cancer while still a young man.

Of course “In My Life” is the song that my wife and I danced to at our wedding and so that brings a whole bunch of memories; after nearly 25 years we are still making memories together. Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” is the song that I proposed to her to while we were dancing at my bowling banquet at The Squires Pub. She is a fan, as am I to a lesser degree, and the song just seemed like the appropriate time to ask her to marry me. I also remember having to speak with her father the next day but that is a different story. It’s funny how things work out.

There are so many more songs and memories, not all of them Beatles-related either. The songs of the Who, Eagles, Simon & Garfunkel, Turtles, Box Tops, Platters, Harry Chapin, etc… the list goes on and on and on. There are some songs that I really like but have a difficult time listening to. “Circle” by Harry Chapin is one of them. I love the song but cannot listen to it anymore. I also have a hard time listening to “Photograph” by Ringo Starr. Ringo sang it at the “Concert for George” and said that the song has taken on new meaning since George’s death and ever since it is difficult for me to listen to. Both songs induce great memories but also make me miss those with whom the memories were made. I would, however, like to have everyone sing “Circle” at my gravesite service when the time comes.

On that note I think it is time to say good-bye for now. I hope you enjoyed reading this installment of my rant-fest and hopefully it brought a smile or two to your face. If you have any song memories you would like to share, please feel free to comment below. I would love to hear from you!

Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it

Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it. - J. Petit Senn

What a great quote! It is simple, to the point and incredibly true. Everyone wants to be happy and we all seek it. Thomas Jefferson spoke of it more than 200 years ago and it still holds true today - "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

The problem is that happiness can prove to be quite elusive and sometimes it seems the more we go out looking for it, the harder it is to find. I have found, and lost, happiness more than a few times in my life but rarely when or where I was looking. I had people telling me where to look (supermarket), when to look (Thursday night) and what time to look (after work and before dinner) but for the most part it proved elusive.

I had all but abandoned the search when I found it standing on a street corner waiting for a bus. No, it wasn't raining and there were no umbrellas (The Hollies - Bus Stop) but there it was. That was nearly 30 years ago and I will leave the story for another time. Suffice it to say that I found happiness that day and I wasn't even looking for it. It hasn't always been rainbows and puppy dog tails but nothing worthwhile ever really is. Right?

Happiness doesn't always mean human companionship, either. There are many who are happy living a solitary life and the freedom it affords. They have other endeavors that fill their needs and make them happy. There is nothing wrong with that! You may find your happiness in a rewarding career or hobby. If it makes you happy and you feel your life is complete never let anyone tell you otherwise. The moral of the story is that no matter who you are there is someone or something out there ready to make you happy. Don't ever stop looking but don't let the search take on a life of its own. Don't get discouraged if happiness eludes you for a while, it is there. I promise!

Image is courtesy of Pixabay and is used under Creative Commons License.