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Highlight Hiker Blog

Newark-Pequannock Watershed, Highlands Trail at Dunker Pond

October 3, 2020

I stood there at the creek crossing, wondering if the raccoon was dead. I hoped it was sleeping, lying there prone, a short footstep from the crossing. Raccoons frighten easily. It should have moved by now, were it alive. My pupils dilated when I first spotted it. Most wildlife that you stumble upon in the wilderness outside of the chattering chipmunk or busy squirrel gives you a momentary “WHAT THE…???” reaction until your brain processes what you’re seeing. But I had pins and needles under my skin knowing that I was going to cross over a dead animal. Wondering if it was placed there as a lesson or an omen from the Universe, or if it was just old, sick, dying, drowned, poisoned….? Poor little fella. ‘One slip on these rocks, and I’m going to step right on that thing.’ I thought to myself. “Better not slip, then.” I said. I was the only person there to heed my own advice.

Fortunately, I didn’t slip. At least… there. I nearly fell on the other side of Dunker Pond while picking my way across a boulder field. I mapped my line with a route over a big boulder that, in my experience, should have been secure. Turned out if was a wobbly son of a gun and dumped me to one side as though someone unexpectedly hit the target on my personal dunk tank. I kept myself from falling; momentarily caught with both feet in the air, back-step-hopping, arms wheeling trying to stay upright. With a plethora of inappropriate phrases skidding from my mouth. I caught my breath and settled my heart rate before turning around to glare at Mr. Wobblestone. I wanted to recognize him when I came back. “Creep!” I spit at him, then very carefully picked my way through the rest of the field.

Needless to say, the remote and under-explored Highlands Trail is not for the faint of heart. My 6.5 mile out-and-back hike was rife with challenge and triumph… and too many face-height cobwebs to count. Most of which I couldn’t dodge or didn’t see, wiping the remnants of some spiders hard work from my eyes, nose and mouth. Additionally, my overall elevation gain clocked in at over 2,400’: the second highest on record for my day hikes. I knew looking at the map that this hike would be challenge. I didn’t know it would be geared to test my mettle.

As they say, though, the greater the challenge, the sweeter the reward. And so it is here. Passing through a labyrinth of stone walls constructed by former residents who lived in a close community long ago. Seeing Dunker Pond slowly come into view through a thicket of trees. Crossing the mirror of Dunker Pond Brook. Feeling the accomplishment of climbing 400+ vertical feet in less than 2 tenths of a mile. To have seen it/experienced it/felt it/conquered it despite the burning tears and burning lungs and burning legs and burning desire to be done. I’m proud. I’m proud of myself for doing it the right way - taking my time to heal and getting through that kind of challenge unscathed. It’s not luck, it’s experience and knowledge. You don’t have to worry about me. I’m ok. I’m better than ok. I’m thriving. I passed the test of the Highlands with an A++.