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November 6 - 13

Shifting Gears

This view from the lookout above Route 80 (eastbound, mile 20), eighteen miles west to the forested wall of Kittatinny Mountain is part of the same valley that runs from Canada to Alabama -- the Great Valley of the Appalachians. Interstate Route 80, aka the Christopher Columbus Highway, can be a scenic tour through an ancient glacial lake, across a glacial moraine, over the New Jersey Highlands into the vast Valley and Ridge province. Enjoy your next ride with a new perspective!
There won’t be too many more days to get out and feel a warm breeze while enjoying the amber and gold colors of autumn’s last leaves. Some days unfold slowly, but listen carefully to catch their rhythm, and you may enjoy the tune. Can you believe it? Three weeks until Thanksgiving!

Roads Best Traveled

The historic and scenic river towns of Easton, Portland, Columbia, Belvidere and Phillipsburg all merit in-depth exploration of their own, but this forty-eight-mile loop tour emphasizes the old roads connecting them.

The Franklin Marble

The wilds of Sparta Mountain begin at Ryker Lake. (Dan Balogh)
The sustained productivity of the Sparta Mountain iron mines, which began in the late 1700s, attracted the attention of Thomas Edison, who built a massive experimental plant to process iron ore and a namesake village in 1889. Today, the Sparta Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) includes thousands of acres with an extensive network of trails that beckon outdoor lovers in search of birds and other wildlife, hikers looking for challenging terrain, hunters and fishers, photographers pursuing remote panoramas and seasonal color, or explorers tracking the signs and scars of historical endeavors. Gear up!

Flight Patterns

A visit to the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Kempton, PA, during the fall raptor migration of 1964, inspired Len and Diane Soucy's special interest in birds of prey, and led to their life's work at The Raptor Trust in Millington. Although watching birds of prey doesn't have to define your life, you may find yourself with a bit of raptor fever after a taste of the annual fall migration. Some species, like the northern goshawk, golden eagle, and red-tailed hawk actually increase in numbers in November, but each species has its own window of time. You can start with this primer for watching these magnificent and magical birds. Then head for Merrill Creek Reservoir, Raccoon Ridge, Wildcat Ridge or several other prime spots in the region.

Jersey Blue on the Green

The Morris County Civil War Monument on the Morristown Green.
Among the many sacrifices to remember on Veterans Day (Tuesday, Nov. 11), Morristown has a surprisingly rich connection with America’s “Second Revolution,” the Civil War. When the call for enlistments went out in the North, and Morristown proudly answered, raising over 100 local volunteers to form Company K of the 7th New Jersey Regiment. The regiment’s commander was Joseph Warren Revere, grandson of Paul Revere, and Company K would receive a grand send-off on the Morristown Green before joining the 7th NJ and their sister regiments to form the 2nd New Jersey Brigade which fought on some of the bloodiest battlefields in this country’s history.

Thanks for joining us in our appreciation of Northwest New Jersey and all the brilliant ways to get out and enjoy the pleasures of the season. Tap our calendar for the best events for you and your family, or check our current stories. Pick from a multitude of daytrip itineraries and watch out for our virtual efforts to keep you informed. For the more aerobically inclined, the Outdoor Map shows the way to go, or choose among dozens of natural attractions or outdoor activities suggested on our website.
Like many other small, independent and specialized information sources, our operation will increasingly rely on reader donations. Help us keep you informed about all the great stuff to do in and around Northwest New Jersey! If you like what we offer, we hope you'll consider a contribution.

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