Sogging Through Sourland Mountain

Sourland Mountain is a 17-mile ridge that runs from the Delaware River in Lambertville, NJ to Hopewell Township. It boasts the largest contiguous forest in Central NJ (about 90 square miles). There is not much elevation gain as the highest point is only 568 feet above sea level. 

 

View from the parking lot

It is part of the 4,000-acre Sourland Mountain Preserve that offers hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, bouldering, and horseback riding, according to SomersetCountyParks.org. It is also known for its nesting birds, including Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees, Winter Wrens, and Summer Tanagers.

Early on the trail

We had dinner plans that evening, so it was a quick way to get in a short hike.   Due to rain earlier in the week, the trail was extremely muddy. We decided to hoof down in an open area (it looked like a hill minus the high tension wire), where we counted tons of praying mantis oothecas, the protective capsule that houses the egg mass during metamorphosis.

Praying mantis waiting to be born

We were met by a jovial fellow who looked to be in his late 70s or early 80s who was wearing a pair of army green knickers, wool socks, and a very bright red sweater. I was confused because I heard the sound of opera music, but my iPod was playing a rock playlist.  I realized the sprightly old gent was carrying an external speaker and the music was coming from it. I wanted to ask if I could take his picture, but thought it might be rude. So we bid him farewell and completed out descent.

Watch where you walk on the way to your car because the grass around the pond at the bottom of Sourland Mountain is inundated with goose poop, which is very difficult to clean from your hiking boot treads. Plus it's not the nicest way to end a good day.

Heidi’s rating: ★ Nice, but definitely not the most exciting hike.

The Fat Man’s rating: 3 mud pies.

Black Cap Bonanza

This morning the Fat Man presented two hiking options: Arethusa Falls (3 miles, 1,000 feet elevation gain) or Mount Willard (3.2 miles, 900 feet elevation gain).  Both were immediately rejected and I presented him with two new options: Black Cap (2.2 miles, 650 feet elevation gain) or Bald Mountain and Artist’s Bluff (1.5 miles, 550 feet elevation gain). 

Black Cap was accepted and we made some sandwiches (turkey and Swiss cheese again), loaded up Horace the Honda with our gear, and sped off.  

On the Black Cap Trail

Black Cap is a gem of a mountain that is frequented by many locals from the Conway, New Hampshire region.  It is one of the few hikes that the gliede (the guidebook that lies) gets right because you have one of the finest vistas in the White Mountains for relatively little effort. 

You cut out most of the elevation by driving up Hurricane Mountain Road, which is long, windy, and narrow.  It is an adventure in itself, especially on the ride down.  Save your brakes by putting your car in low gear.  Pray that no one comes up the hill because in certain spots there isn’t much room to spare and there is no shoulder.

Rock ledges on the climb

The ascent on the Black Cap Trail is gradual, so you only cough up half a lung on the way up.  We use hiking sticks (“four points of contact are better than two,” the Fat Man always says), which I recommend to hikers of all skill levels.  They are especially helpful on your descent.

It only took us 45 minutes to reach the summit from the starting point, which takes you through spruce trees in Conway State Forest.

 Close to the Black Cap Trail summit

You can pick up a trail map from a little kiosk about half a mile up, which is good to have on hand.  The wind was slightly breezy and cool on this crisp September day (it can get very windy up there).  We were able to see Mount Washington in the distance, Chocorua, and the Conway valley.  We had the mountain totally to ourselves for a good 30 minutes, just enough time for the Fat Man to take a snooze.

Summit of Black Cap Trail

The Fat Man snoozing

The big boulders on the final leg of the trail may be a little steep for severely vertigo-challenged climbers, especially on the way down. You can take a little side path — the spur of the Black Cap Connector Trail — instead.  We did the rock scramble both up and down and it was truly a delightful little jaunt.

Heidi’s rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Gain with no pain.

The Fat Man’s rating: ★ ★ ★ and mild pulmonary edema.