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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I Think I Have Seen Everything Now

I Love to Hike

If you have been following along on this blog and my photography blog, Exploring Photography with Joe Valencia, you will know that I enjoy hiking. I try to get out at lunchtime every day and this year I have set a goal for 365 miles. I have been tracking my hikes since October 2011 and the most miles I have had in a year is 144 in 2014. Last year I hiked at least once every month for a total of 115 miles - I don't get a lot of miles in during the summer because it just gets too hot and humid. I set my goal at an average of 1 mile/day; the plan is to do a lot more than that but it seemed like a reasonable goal.

As-of today I have nearly 70 miles and averaging more than 1.2 miles/day. This is mainly because I am averaging more than 1.8 miles per hike, many hikes are between 2 and 2 1/2 miles during my lunch hour. Usually the hikes are uneventful, I almost always have a camera and sometimes I get some "keepers" but the hikes are usually about the hike and getting outdoors. I say the hikes are usually uneventful because there have been a few times when things got a bit interesting. The worse that ever happened was a few years ago when I passed out after a hike and spent the night in the hospital - dehydration/heat exhaustion - but that is for another time. This year has been rather strange with this week taking the cake.

Strange Encounters

Earlier this year I stopped at Durand Park, a local park I occasionally go to, at lunch to take a hike. It is a small park with a cinder walkway leading to a gazebo and then a large field planted with wildflowers to attract butterflies. As I approached the gazebo I noticed something scratched into the walkway so I walked up on the grass. In capital letters I found "RUN HELP US HE'S HERE" and accompanying the words was a pictogram that included a pentagram. Inside the gazebo were other pictures and writing - most of which I couldn't make out except for "HAIL SATAN". Needless to say, I took some pictures and then reported it to the local police. I stayed away from the park for a couple weeks; I never saw anything written about it and never heard from the police so I don't know if it was something real or just some kids being jerks. What really made it odd was that I was there at 7:00 AM for a quick walk before work and when I went back at noon all of this was there. This was also a school day....

The very next afternoon I headed out for a walk at Monmouth Battlefield about 5 miles west of Durand Park. I was hiking about the Farms Trail which lies between the field and the woods. I saw that a large branch had blown down and was blocking the trail and I noticed something white in the middle of it. As I got closer, I noticed it was a skull that someone had wedged in between branches - attached to the skull was about 18 inches of the spine! I looked at the edge of the trail and found the remainder of the deer. I don't know how long it had been there but long enough so that it was almost completely clean. I have found skeletal remains a couple other times but never had I come across anything like this. Who would do such a thing and why? I conjunction with the previous day's findings I turned around and headed back to the office - I didn't want to stick around.... I walked by that spot yesterday and the skull was gone, the branches removed but the rest of the skeleton is still there.

Then There is Today

I decided to go back to Monmouth Battlefield today and was having a pretty good outing until I was on my way back to the office. I had hiked up to the house and was headed back towards the woods which will bring me back to the road and my office. I looked up and saw a rather large person walking along the trail headed towards me. I will sometimes come across people walking their dogs but this guy was alone and coming from the woods - something felt hinky. I decided to walk about 30 or 40 yards to my right to get away from him before heading to the woods; the whole time keeping an eye out for him to re-appear. There was a time when a building blocked my view but if he was still walking he would have reappeared - he never did. This had me concerned because now it seemed like it wasn't going to be a pleasant encounter. I looked towards the woods and saw someone - a different person! - dressed in black pants and black hoodie with the hood up. He was standing next to a tree, not moving. As soon as he saw me, he slowly took a step to his left and disappeared behind the tree. Alarms went off and I got the hell out of there. I didn't run but walked a bit faster than I would normally. I noticed a few State Park Police vehicles in the parking lot and headed for them, if someone was there I was going to let them know what I saw, if not I was going to walk to Rt 9 and the long way back to the office.

As luck would have it, as I got to the parking lot there was a State Park Police Officer with a bloodhound! The alarms got louder!! I waved at him and got his attention, walked over to him and explained what had just happened. He laughed and told me that the two (2) guys in the woods were fellow officers and they were conducting training for the dog. To say that I was relieved would be a gross understatement, so would saying that I felt a bit foolish, too! I thanked the officer and headed towards the woods where I encountered the first officer I had seen. I stopped to talk to him - I guess the other guy had radioed because he was laughing as I approached. I talked to him for a minute or so - waved to the "hoodie guy" and headed back to the office. I'm sure they are going to have a good laugh about it for quite some time to come.

I guess if you are going to come across some "shady" characters while out hiking alone, it's good to find out they are "the good guys" and not looking to make you their next statistic. 😂

I hope you enjoyed this post and would love to hear about any strange encounters you may have had while hiking or just out on the town. Has anything bizarre ever happened to you? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for stopping by....

Hiking Through History: Monmouth Battlefield - Part IV; The Sutfin House

This installment is somewhat different than its predecessors in that it is about a single entity in an historic site. The house was built in 1731 and stands alone amidst the corn and a lone tree. It was owned by Derick Sutfin and at the time of the battle he lived there with his wife, Mary, and four of their eight children. They also owned a number of slaves who are believed to have slept in the upstairs loft of the house. The farm, at one time, covered 265 acres where the family raised livestock and grew grain. He produced wheat, rye, apple cider, beef, pork, poultry, honey and dairy products. There were also other structures on the land but the farmhouse is the only one left standing.

The image at the top of this post is a wide shot of the farm and battlefield. I took this photo while standing at the top of Combs Hill where the Visitor Center now sits. The house is approximately a mile away from where I was standing.

I have hiked this part of the park before and written about the other trails but I had only seen the old farmhouse from a distance. I started the hike on the Washington Trail but when I got to an opening in the fence I turned onto the Farms Trail and Colonel Cilley Trail which took me on to the Sutfin Farm and towards the old farmhouse. It is the Colonel Cilley Trail which ultimately passes by the house. I have always been struck by the weathered appearance of the house and I wanted to take a lot of photos. I took a few shots from different parts of the trail as I approached and then some up-close. As I was walking around the house looking for some interesting features to photograph I started feeling a bit uncomfortable. The house is closed up but many of the upstairs windows are without glass and there are holes in the side of the building so there are many places where you can see inside. I found myself concentrating more on what might be inside the house than I was on photographing the outside. The longer I was there, the more uncomfortable I felt. I just couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't alone and that I was being watched.

Ridiculous! Right? Absolutely! The reality is the longer I was there, the stronger the feeling got until I couldn't stay any longer. I had to leave the house and I couldn't get away fast enough. So it was back to the Colonel Cilley Trail, heading southeast until I came to a wooden fence identical to the one along the Washington Trail behind me. This is where the Colonel Cilley Trail heads north and the Farms Trail goes south. I took the Farms Trail and followed it back to the parking lot.

I couldn't stop thinking about my experience at the house and so the next day I decided to take my walk through the Sutfin Farm again, this time taking the Colonel Cilley Trail which would, once again, bring me to the Sutfin House. As I was walking along I came across a fellow hiker, a gentleman I had actually seen the day before but he was too far away to stop and chat. This time we were on the same trail heading towards each other and when we were close enough we exchanged "hello’s.” I asked him if he was on the trail yesterday and he said he was. I then asked him if he had ever experienced the sensation of being watched like I had the day before. Much to my delight, he said he had. We talked a little more and then I continued along the trail and soon found myself approaching the house. I was coming from the east whereas the day before I came to it from the west. I took some photos while approaching the house but as I drew closer the strange sensation started coming over me again and so I didn't stop until I was well past the house. I have discovered that the hiker and I are not alone - check out a great post by Patrick Browne called Monmouth Battlefield: Just Me and the Ghosts. You can also check out Chuck's Paranormal Adventures, he has done a number of investigations at Monmouth Battlefield (I participated in one and will write about that at a later date) and has some interesting observations of the Sutfin House. I have since learned that, though no one with the New Jersey Parks System or Friends of Monmouth Battlefield has experienced anything like I had, there have been recent reports of "things" from visitors.

Are there spirits walking the grounds of Monmouth Battlefield or stuck inside the Sutfin House. I don't know. I don't even know if I actually believe the possibility even exists but the bottom line is - I don't think I am going to get close to the house again unless I have others with me.

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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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Hiking Through History: Monmouth Battlefield - Part II; George Washington

This is the second installment of Hiking Through History and I am still at Monmouth Battlefield. The first post was about the Visitor Center and Combs Hill, today I will take you to the battlefield and the .86 mile Washington Trail. The following trail description is taken from the park brochure:

"Washington Trail: This trail leads to the main Continental Army position. Back-and-forth along this hill, Washington rode, encouraging his men and organizing a counter-attack as the British began withdrawing."

Now, I think it is important to say that I am not a history buff and that history was always one of my worst subjects when I was in school. That is what makes this hike even more special than just some time in the great outdoors. As I was walking along the trail taking in the beauty of the autumn day I couldn’t help but think back to June 1778 and imagine what was happening in the exact place where I was walking. The wooden fence shown here couldn’t possibly be a relic from the battle but I could almost see men kneeling behind it and taking aim. I often found myself stopping and looking towards the east trying to envision the British soldiers in the field and what it must have felt like to be there during the battle. I stood in the very spot that Molly Hays, aka Molly Pitcher, stood and fired upon the British when one of the soldiers fell – watch for a post about that trail coming soon.

The black & white image above was taken while kneeling behind the battlefield fence, looking towards the Sutfin House. This is a view that the soldiers would have had during the battle. The house is very interesting in on it's own and I will write about it at a later date.

It took longer than usual for me to hike this trail because I stopped at each of the information stations along the way and took pictures from that perspective. I have been to a number of places that claim “George Washington Slept Here” but I was on the ground where he commanded troops and that was somehow magical. If you stand still and are real quiet you can almost hear the roar of the cannons; or maybe it is the roar of the cars speeding by, I can’t be too sure.

When I was approaching the end of the trail I looked ahead and saw a couple of people walking dogs. I looked to my left to take a photo and when I turned back they were gone. The trail had a slight curve to it between where I was and where I had seen them and the grass was high so I thought I would meet up with them as I walked. I didn’t! I got to where the trail turned to go back to the parking lot (this is the spot that I saw the other walkers) and they were nowhere to be seen. The first thought I had was that they were soldiers who never left the battlefield and I was a little spooked. I then noticed that there was a trail to my right (this is the Lafayette Trail, watch for an upcoming post) and they were about 40 yards up that trail. They saw me and we exchanged waves. I actually stopped about 20 feet away and turned, just to make sure they were still there. I felt a bit foolish when I got back to the parking lot; their new, full-size pickup truck was parked next to my car….

Hiking Through History: Monmouth Battlefield - Part I

I begin this multi-part series about Monmouth Battlefield where most people would begin their visit - the Visitor Center and Combs Hill.

Monmouth Battlefield State Park is located in Monmouth County, New Jersey. It is the site of the Battle of Monmouth on 28 June 1778 and is considered one of the pivotal battles in the American Revolution. This series of posts will take you through the battlefield as I retrace the steps of General George Washington, Marquis de Lafayette, General Charles Lee and Mary "Molly" Ludwig Hays, aka Molly Pitcher. I will explore Old Tennent Church and Old Tennent Cemetery, the church having been used as a make-shift hospital during the battle and the cemetery containing graves and tributes to those who fought there.

The image above is a view of the battlefield shot from atop Combs Hill. The lone structure in the distance is the Sutfin House; it stands in the middle of the battlefield with General Washington to the west (left) and Major General Charles Cornwallis to the east (right). The Sutfin House stands about 1 mile from where this photo was shot.

This image was shot a few days prior to the annual battle re-enactment. These fences can be found throughout the battlefield but the ones shown here do not stay up year-round, they are only in place for the re-enactment and then removed.

This is one of two footbridges that span the ravine at the bottom of Combs Hill.

The Visitor Center has a lot of exhibits and information about the battle and there is always someone available to help with any questions you may have. I would suggest you start your exploration by picking up a map of the park and then set out to explore. There are tables for picnics and a playground for the kids. Some of the trails are paved while others may just be dirt or very short grass in the case of the fields. You can enter the woods where you will find several trails. I usually will start by traversing down Combs Hill and entering the woods to the left of this footbridge, that way I don't have to hike up on the way back. The wooded trails are my favorite in this section of the park; if you look carefully and walk quietly you may come across some deer along the way.

Well, that wraps up this initial installment of Hiking Through History: Monmouth Battlefield. The upcoming weeks will bring more installments from Monmouth Battlefield before moving on to another site.

“Not all those who wander are lost.” - J.R.R. Tolkien

I overheard my wife and son talking in the car and my wife read this quote to him. They are both Tolkien fans. I am not but I loved the quote and thought it was a perfect fit for me to write about. It's funny what inspires us sometimes. Ringo Starr makes a slip of the tongue and John Lennon writes "A Hard Day's Night". I overhear someone talking and get an idea for a blog article. Does that put me at the same level as John Lennon? I wish..... My point is that you never know when or how you will be inspired but if you keep your eyes and ears open, good things will eventually come your way.

My Wandering

Now, on to the subject at hand. I love to wander and do so whenever I get a chance. Whether it is for 20 minutes at lunch or hours on a weekend morning, taking a new way back to the office after lunch or a leisurely bike ride, wandering about is great for the body, mind and soul. My wandering over the past couple years has taken me to several cemeteries, eight (8) county parks, two (2) state parks and a couple national recreation areas, all in New Jersey. I have explored beaches and woods, historic sites and places that are just fun to explore. Until now the wandering I have written about has been done on foot but I recently got a bicycle and hope to start riding again soon. The bike is great because I can cover so much more area on each excursion but it still affords me the luxury of taking everything in. The bike also allows me to carry more equipment with me, such as a tripod.

The Images

The photos included here are from several hikes that I have taken during my various excursions. Earlier I wrote that I love to wander but I didn't tell you why and I am sure that inquiring minds want to know. There is no single answer to that question - some times it is because I am not anxious to reach my destination (the long way back to the office) or maybe it's because I was curious as to what was on the other side of the hill and I had to explore. I think the main reason is that it gives me time to think, time to reflect on "the bigger picture" and time to attend to my spiritual, emotional and mental well-being. People spend a lot of money laying on a couch talking about their problems to someone and that's okay but it isn't for me. Some turn to their church (synagogue, temple, etc....) for solace and answers to their problems and that's okay, too. Me? I prefer walking around in the woods or finding a good fishing hole to wet my line and just let myself go. For me, there is no better way to recharge the batteries.

In closing

So remember, just because someone is seems to be wandering about aimlessly do not assume he is lost. It could be me looking for my next photo or a secluded spot to sit and reflect on life. Give it a try yourself and see if you don't agree how liberating it can be. My one suggestion is to make sure you have a map - I wouldn't want you to get lost....

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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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Hiking Through History: Historic Allaire Village

In the coming weeks and months I will be writing a series called "Hiking Through History". I will be visiting sites of historic significance around New Jersey and beyond, taking photographs and presenting them here along with a narrative. The first stop on the tour is Historic Village at Allaire in Wall Township, New Jersey. The village dates back to the early 19th Century when James P. Allaire established Howell Iron Works, a bog iron furnace and a self-sufficient village around it. The village operates today as a "living history museum" demonstrating how life was when the village and iron works were operational.

I decided to try to re-create the era with a black & white image of the Chapel. If you are looking for a special place to hold your wedding ceremony, check out the Chapel at Allaire Village.

The long building above housed the Carpenter Shop.

We move on the the Bakery, shown in the image above. There are large brick ovens where they still bake. I was fortunate to be at the village one day when they were doing demonstrations and watched the bakers - it gets quite hot in the bakery.

The last two images are the Blast Furnace. This is quite an impressive structure and the only non-operational part of the village.

This is just a taste of what is waiting for you at Allaire Village and I encourage you to explore it for yourself. For more information, check out The History Village at Allaire where you can learn more about the village and get a list of upcoming events. You can also visit the Allaire State Park website for information about the entire park, including the trails and Pine Creek Railroad.

You can follow Allaire Village on Twitter - @AllaireVillage. The account is owned by The Historic Village at Allaire and is separate from the other websites.

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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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Stop and Listen to the Birds Sing

I try to get out to one of the local parks during my lunch hour to take a hike and take pictures. My goal is to cover at least one (1) mile and often exceed that. I also like to go after work and like to walk for two (2) miles or more. I do this for a number of reasons, not the least of which is for my physical well-being. The other reasons have to do with photography, my photography blog and my mental well-being. I don't know if I use my hikes as an excuse to shoot or my shooting as an excuse to get out and hike but I also don't care. To me there is something special about being in a park or walking along a wooded trail, alone with my thoughts.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I try to walk at least a mile during lunch but there are times when things don't quite work out as planned. This post is about one such afternoon. I had planned to go to a nearby lake where I can usually get in about 1.5 miles before having to head back but once I started walking I changed my mind. The previous day I visited Monmouth Battlefield State Park for my lunchtime hike and about a half-mile from my car I twisted my knee a bit. It isn't the first time something like that has happened and this time it wasn't bad but I was uncomfortable. Well, I hadn't gone more than about 20 yards this afternoon when the knee started bothering me again - I almost went back to the car but it was too nice out and so I decided to walk a bit and then sit on a bench. I walked about 10 minutes and found the spot that I was looking for, I was on top of a small rise next to the trail under a group of pine trees.

I had a great view of the lake and also had a good view of three (3) birdhouses that were in nearby trees. There are many birdhouses in the trees throughout Lake Topanemus Park, all painted with various designs. I kept an eye on the birdhouse closest to me and had the camera ready, just in case. I also noticed a nest about 10 feet further up in the same tree that I kept an eye on. I otherwise did nothing and cannot remember the last time doing nothing felt so good! I sat there for about 30 minutes watching birds fly about and listening to them sing. I could hear nothing else. It was during this time that I realized that as difficult as it is living with hearing loss and struggling to follow conversations at times, I am blessed with being able to sit in a park and listen to the birds sing. I know there were cars going by the park, kids playing on the playground, people walking by crunching gravel beneath their feet but I could hear none of that - all I could hear were the birds.

So, that afternoon didn't do much for my physical well-being and I didn't come away with any photos worth keeping but the 30 minutes I spent sitting on that bench did more good than hours with Sidney Freedman ever would. It may be time to re-think my daily routine and consider taking one day a week to find a park bench somewhere and just sit instead of walking. Ringo Starr did a song called "Stop and Take the Time to Smell the Roses" and John Lennon did "Watching the Wheels" - I think it is time to "Stop and Listen to the Birds Sing"....

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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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Shhhh – there’s a deer but where are my keys?

In 2011 and 2012 I spent a lot of time walking at Thompson Park in Lincroft, New Jersey. The park was only 10 minutes from my office and I often went during my lunch hour or after work. The following is an account of one of my after work visits in early December 2011.

I started my walk on the Paved Trail. There is a loop just to the south of the Marlu Lake parking lot that I have walked before. It gets dark so early in December and I couldn't really hike the woods after work so I picked this trail again. I was going along and noticed that there was a small trail leading off into the woods and down to the water. There was still enough light for me to make a detour and so down I went. I walked along the water a short way and found this squirrel running across the path. I was able to get the shot shown here and he took off. I turned around and headed back to the pavement. I had completed the loop and there was still plenty of time before I had to leave – the park closed at 5:00 – so I continued past my car, past the lake and headed up towards the top of the hill. When I approached the top, I saw a small deer in the clearing and took a couple shots. The light was poor and I didn’t expect much (I was right – notice there is a picture of a squirrel, not a deer) but I am sometimes surprised and so I shot. I also decided to shoot some video footage and so I swung the camera bag around, took the camera out and shot some nice footage. It was then that my keys (remember my keys, this is a story about my keys) somehow came off the carabiner that holds them on my camera bag. There wouldn’t be much of a story if I had heard them hit the pavement or somehow realized what had happened but I didn’t. I continued my hike up the pavement until I came to a dirt trail that runs along the woods back down to the paved trail by the lake. It was getting close to 5:00 by now and dark enough so I wasn’t even looking for a photo op. I was just heading to the car.

When I got to the car I swung the bag around to get my keys and came up with a handful of nothing. That’s okay, I thought, I must have put them in my pocket. Nothing. Coat pocket? No. Zipper compartment in bag? No. I then realized that I had checked everywhere, three times, and they were lost. I even looked in the ignition – not there either. With light quickly slipping away and panic rapidly taking over I took off running along the trail – retracing every step. I decided not to detour into the woods because by now it was too dark and dangerous. I ran (and walked, I’m still a bit out of shape….) along the loop and then realized I was going to need help. I had to at least have a flashlight. A few weeks earlier I thought it would be a good idea to put all of the Ranger Station phone numbers into my cellphone in case I got hurt along the trail. I called the Thompson Park Ranger and got the Monmouth County Parks System main office. Of course, they close at 4:00 (or 4:30) and weren’t going to help me. How about Tatum, maybe they could radio the Thompson Park Ranger – I got a recording. My now I had run/fast walked almost completely around the loop and approaching my car. The keys had to be somewhere on the way up or down the hill but it was too dark. I reluctantly dialed 911. I explained the situation, apologized for calling about a non-emergency and was told by the operator that I had done the right thing and he would call the Ranger Station. I met the ranger at my car and we drove up the hill. Lo and behold the keys were right where I was standing when I grabbed the video camera. What a relief! I apologized to the Ranger for taking him away from whatever he was doing – I felt like a fool – and he assured me that this wasn’t his first lost key excursion. By now it was 5:10 and I had walked about 3 miles. I got into my car, put away the camera and headed for home.

I didn’t get the name of the Ranger but I would like to thank him just the same. I have had several interactions with Park Rangers at Thompson Park over that past couple months and they have all be great. There was one who is also an avid photographer. She stopped me one day to ask if I had gotten any good shots – that day wasn’t eventful but we talked for a while about different adventures. On another occasion a Ranger was driving by and pointed out a spot that he thought I might be interested in shooting. He was right. Most times it is just a wave as they pass but they are always there when you need them and always make you feel welcome.

Now…. what to do with my keys?

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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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