Huts!

In Morristown National Historical Park, there are some replicas of huts that soldiers would’ve stayed in during the Continental Army’s winter encampment of 1779-1780 (oddly enough, called, on the map, “soldiers’ huts”).

Each log-cabin hut has a 14′x16′ floor (roughly) and would’ve housed 12 soldiers.

They were pretty cramped. It was a lousy winter, by all accounts.

 

P.S. Here’s where Morristown National Historical Park is (link to a Google map):

Also here are links to trail maps (it’s connected to the Lewis Morris Park):
* Jockey Hollow
* NJ Brigade map
* Morristown Historical Park in context of Morristown
* Lewis Morris Park in color (PDF)
* Lewis Morris Park in less color (JPG suitable for printing B/W)

 

Resources:

National Park Service. (n.d.). “Plan your visit,” Jockey Hollow. http://www.nps.gov/morr/planyourvisit/index.htm.

Parsons, E. (n.d.). “Jockey Hollow (Morristown) – Soldiers’ Log Huts.” Richard Stockton College of New Jersey; Art & Architecture of New Jersey. http://www.ettc.net/njarts/details.cfm?ID=292.

Purdes, J. (2003-2003). “Jockey Hollow.” Hiking in New Jersey. http://www.purdes.com/njhiking/jockey_hollow/.

Skylands Visitor. (2008?). “Morristown National Historical Park: The Great Story.” http://www.njskylands.com/hsmtnhp.htm.

Over the tree trunks and through the woods

In January, I reported that the New Providence section of the Passaic River Park was impassible. I’ve been back to those woods a couple times since, but it’s always been difficult and disappointing.

THIS HAS SINCE CHANGED (!!!).

Some gang sawed through that giant mess of trees… AND BLAZED IT. (I’ve been meaning to blaze it forever!) Neon orange marks now dot the previously unmarked trail, guiding hikers across un-trail-like areas that they’d never think to hike otherwise. Example below: hello random patch of weeds new trail.

For several of the larger logs that blocked the path, rather than cut them up… they’re simply part of the trail now. Volunteers have added steps to help hikers hop over logs.

It is AWESOME. Excellent work. I don’t know who you are, mysterious team of trail volunteers, but I love you, and if you want a hand with the next go-round, PLEASE let me help. You’ve rocked my world!

Baby evergreen

I dunno, sometimes I just think, “man, wouldn’t it be cool to get a close look at some kind of tiny budding pine-thing?” Doesn’t that ever cross YOUR mind?

Tree tubes

So there you are, in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, hiking through the Passaic River Parkway, and suddenly you see a bazillion big weird things that look like hollow candles.

“What the heck!” you say.

You lean close to peer at a label, and learn that these hollow-candle-things are TREE TUBES.

But what on earth are “tree tubes?”

These tree tubes protect native saplings from being browsed and damaged by deer and also act as a mini “greenhouse”, allowing light to filter through and moisture to become trapped within. Once the saplings reach the top of the tubes they (the tubes) will be removed by Parks staff.

For more information about our native plantings please call:
(908) 527-4900

So that’s that.

Baby spruce

Merry Christmas, if you celebrate.

Little falls

I wish these little falls had a name, but I don’t think they do.

They can be found on a tiny tributary of the Rahway River in the South Mountain Reservation, upstream of Hemlock Falls.

I like photographing waterfalls! They’re clichés, but there’s something to be said for the instant gratification you get when you capture a really cool photo. And it doesn’t always happen, because the light hardly ever cooperates with me and I STILL haven’t bought a ND filter. What’s your experience?

Hydrant in the woods

I guess it’s a matter of practicality, but when I go hiking, I expect to find nature, not fire hydrants.

Fuzz

It’s soft, it’s fuzzy… beyond that, I guess it’s some kind of a leftover seed dispersal thing from some kind of a swamp plant. Do you recognize it?

Grassy lumps

I imagine these grassy lumps are probably what’s left when tall grasses keel over and die for the winter, and their firm grassy root balls remain intact, but I’m not entirely sure. Do you know? Have you seen things like these in your own local swamp?

Around the ground

Sometimes I get lazy and just post macro shots of fungi.