Busy Day Part III:100 Steps

(This is it, I promise.)

As I was wandering around Pyramid Mountain as studying the trail map, I noticed that on the other side of the road from the parking lot was a trail marked "100 Steps" that also had stone ruins along it.I remember reading about the trail on some hiking website whose name escapes me right now.

The reason the trail is called "100 Steps" is because, after winding around a short trial alongside some warehouses, the first hill is ascended by means of a lot of stone steps.I wasn't counting, so I'm not sure if there's exactly 100.My official guess is that is seemed like a lot.

This isn't the whole staircase.It disappears up into the woods and around the bend.Climbing those stairs was just what I needed to completely tire me out after a long day of hiking.Still, I wanted to see those ruins.

At the top of the 100 steps the trail ran alongide some power lines.Soon enough I was at the sight of the first ruin, a stone house built into the side of a small hill.

This one was out in the open and quite easy to find.The second ruin was a couple hundred feet into the woods.

The second , as you can see, was slightly less intact.All that was left was the chimney and the foundation.Still, I wonder who lived out here on the mountain.The houses weren't very big, so I doubt they were rich.I guess that's something for me to research.

I took one last moment to take in the view, which was pretty nice.I could see a reservoir from there.

I left on a different trail because there was a limestone quarry there.Of course, I forgot to take a picture.That means I took my tired, sore ass about an extra mile or so to get back to my car and go home.The trail back was no much to look at, but I imagine it would be quite pretty once the leaves come back.

All in all, it was a busy, worthwhile day.I left a few places unexplored so a second trip is sure to be upcoming.I must've walked at least 6 or 7 miles over the course of 5 hours, including time driving from the falls to Pyramid Mountain.I need to rest.

Busy Day Part II:Pyramid Mountain

(Note:I am splitting my day up into parts.It's easier this way.Trust me.)

After leaving Boonton Falls, I decided to head up to Pyramid Mountain.It is located in Montville, which is one town and five minutes away.I came up with the thought to go there because it was featured in the Weird NJ book.

The lot was quite full, but I expected that.There were plenty of trail maps available there.The trail started off pretty flat and running along some power lines.As soon as the trail hit the woods, I took off on the more difficult trail.It got steep quick as I was at the bottom of Pyramid Mountain.



Then it got harder.

Honestly, the tough part did go by pretty quick.On the trip up I stopped at Bear Rock, which is one of New Jersey's largest individual boulders.

It had to be at least 15 feet tall.It was pretty impressive, for a rock.The land was also very swampy.Bear Rock was actually on the edge of one of the bigger ones.It's name, appropriately enough, is Bear Swamp.

Finally, I made it to the top and the reason I came here in the first place:Tripod Rock.

Tripod Rock is considered to be a glacial erratic.For those not willing to follow the link, a glacial erratic is a rock that was deposited somewhere unusual by a ...wait for it...a glacier.This one, as you can see is being balanced by three small stones.The space underneath is high enough to crawl under.Not that I advocate crawling underneath it, but if 10000 years of weather and erosion haven't toppled it, I doubt any of us will either.

There were other erratics in the area as well, though these were much smaller.

It was tough to get a good view up there as there were many trees, but when I found a clearing it was pretty rewarding.

I came down the side of the mountain on the yellow trail, which I have to remember to use to go up next time I come here, as it was a lot of fun.The whole trip only took me about 1 1/2 hours.I had enough time to check out one more trail, which will be shown in part III of my ever-so-thrilling adventures.

Busy Day Part I:Boonton Falls

On Saturday, I went over to Boonton and Montville to check out some of the sights.I had worked in those places probably about 150 times and never knew any of the things I found were even there.

My first stop was Boonton Falls, which is located behind Main St.There weren't many places to walk, but the scenery was nice.Waterfalls are always interesting to see.There are actually two here, but the first just goes over a dam.I'm not sure that counts.

Those aren't the real falls.This is the real falls.

If you stick to the small trail, you can't get too close to the falls.You have to cross the Rockaway River and follow the edge of it and you can get right up close to it.I took this pic from about 3 feet away.

There are a few other things to see.At the end of the trail there is a stone circle and some train tracks.The circle, after doing some research, was part of the railroad system.

I crossed the river at these tracks, which provide you with a nice enough view to make you forget that you are just 100 feet from a busy main street.

There wasn't much else to see.There were these four tunnels, none of which went deeper than 20 feet.

And finally, there was this huge rock, which you can climb to the top of with a little effort.

And that is Boonton Falls.It's not much of a hike, but would be a nice place to go for a picnic.The one thing I didn't take a picture of was some trash floating at the base of the falls.Booooo people.Shame on you for polluting this place with your crap.