Today’s target?
High Point, NJ.
1,804 feet in elevation.
As mentioned previously, I have some rules for my state high point quest. The most important one is getting a local beer afterwards. Less important, but still a rule, is that my ascent starts at least 3 miles from the target summit.
The Appalachian Trail (AT), which originates about an hour north of my home in Atlanta, also passes through New Jersey. Within about a quarter of a mile of High Point, actually. There were a few options for where to begin the journey, but I chose to start at the parking lot where the AT meets Deckertown Turnpike near Port Jervis. I set out on the trail at 9:50 AM after downing some (terrible) coffee from the hotel and a little breakfast.
Even all the way up in New Jersey, the AT held to its usual (in my experience) profile of following ridges and gaps with a hand full of good views. The trail reminded me a lot of hiking in Georgia or North/South Carolina.
But it was rocky. Really rocky. There were countless rock gardens (a term from my mountain biking days – see picture if you don’t know what it is…and now you know) that provided ample opportunity to stub toes or face plant entirely. Face planting would be a bad idea since there were lots of sharp-ish rocks waiting to bang knees or impale their unlucky victim.
I would say it was one of the more technical sections of trail I have hiked in a while because of the need for nearly flawless foot placement on each step. The downside to this? You spend the hike looking at something you didn’t need to travel to New England to see. Your feet.
You can always stop for pictures though. Here are a few.
And eventually, the summit of New Jersey appears.
It was COLD at the summit. I stopped for a quick snack and some pictures. For some of that time I was gloveless. My fingers were freezing! I would guess the temperature was around 30 with wind chill in the 20’s. After the quick stop, I was back on the trail headed the other direction.
This was a fairly long hike, with a round trip of 13.1 miles. There was not a lot of elevation change at all, but the distance was a good prep for the next few days. I only saw two other hikers and they were on a shorter route. Outside of being technically difficult, it was a breeze. I was back at the car and headed out by 2:40, for a total round trip time of 4 hours and 50 minutes. I think this would be a more challenging ascent during the “real” winter when there is snow/ice, but on a dry-to-damp trail, easy peasy.
On to the celebratory beer. It was really challenging to find a beer from New Jersey. I was hoping to find Kane Brewing because I have heard they make some great stuff, but it proved elusive. I settled on the River Horse Brewer’s Reserve Triple IPA instead. I had to buy it warm, so I put one in the fridge in my room and one outside.
Having completed my noble quest(s) it was time to move on. I learned at the restaurant last night that Pennsylvania was also within a few minutes of my location. So I made a quick drive across that border and wound up passing through three states in about 90 seconds. I am thankful we don’t require passports/customs to cross state lines!
Pennsylvania welcomes ME! So long Jersey. I am off to Connecticut (yes, spelled it right the first time!) to prep for tomorrow. Word has it that the first big snow is coming overnight, so tomorrow may be an adventure.
Peak #8 in the bag.
Chambers Adventures 