Highlight Hiker Blog
May 10, 2022
New Maps, New Direction
There are a few new things that most ladies love: new make-up, new shoes, and taking off your socks under fresh crisp sheets (oh, is that just me?). The day that the New York New Jersey Trail Conference released their updated Northern Jersey Highlands 4-map set was one of those things that this lady loved! All of a sudden: bam! two maps were divided into 4! Trails were updated, new trails were blazed and some established trails that were not shown in the previous maps set had now appeared!
It was like getting a new kind of candy. I opened the wrapper and poured over my maps, comparing the old set to the new. Taking photos of what had to be done on each map (the only one that had not changed was the Newark-Pequannock Watershed area). Former maps 115 & 116 had been split into a new four-map set consisting of maps 150, 151, 152 & 153 and now my “only 3 hikes left to complete map 115 & 116 became a much longer list and I aimed to tackle it!
I HAD PURPOSE! I HAD REASON! I HAD…. a big challenge ahead of me. There was actually quite a lot that needed to be done. And there is one trail that, as I’m writing this on November 11, 2022, still has yet to be completed (a section off the Tapawingo trail that connects to Jungle Habitat).
So without further stuff and nonsense…. TO THE PHOTO GALLERY! Where I shall show you what changed and what to expect from me over the summer! HUZZAH!
Former Map #115
Former Map #116
This is the new map #150 with all completed trails highlighted
Map #150: I now had to add the Old Mill trails and Parsons Pond trails in Franklin Lakes
Map #150: I had to add the Comm Tower trail in Ringwood
Map #150: I had to add the refashioned Gatun Pond trail in Ringwood State Park
Map #150: I had to add the Five Ponds Connector in Ringwood State Park
Map #150: I had to complete the Hasenclever reroute in Ringwood State Park
Map #150: This was outstanding from map #115, it is the eastside of Stonetown Circular in North Jersey District Water Supply Commission
Map #150: I also had to complete this unnamed baby trail in Mahwah Open Space
Map #151: I had to complete the Nancy Conger West Brook Preserve trails
Map #151: All of the Highlands Preserve trails in Hewitt.
Map #151: The new Tapawingo Trail in Norvin Green State Forest. I had hiked more than half of it earlier while it was still being blazed. There is still more to come from this trail!
Map #151: This shows the entirety of the east side of Stonetown Circular which I had yet to complete
New Map #152
Map #152 saw the end of one of my favorite trails. I was so sad. However, the new blaze picks up where the old trail left off and is now a connector to the Bearfort Mountain range.
The last section of the Appalachian Trail (and the bit that I've been saving for last) Stairway to Heaven, Pinwheel Vista and the accompanying miles to Barrett Road
Map #152 now includes the Maple Grange Park and Black Creek Historic Site
Map #152 I must complete all of the marked trails in the Highlands Preserve
New Map #153 - this is the Newark-Pequannock watershed portion, which had no changes or updates and I can actually say is complete! Yay!