The End

As I pointed out at the beginning of making this blog, it was for my Online Journalism class at Rowan University. Now that the fall semester has come to a close, so shall this blog. It was a lot of fun to go to new parks and preserves, take plenty of pictures, and interview someone with a more serious South Jersey hiking blog. I hope to keep hiking in South Jersey even though this blog will not be updated anymore. I would like to say farewell to the few of you who read any of my posts, and thanks for even just skimming them.

Mike McCormick and South Jersey Trails

On an unfortunately cloudy day, I walked with Mike McCormick and his son Abe in Tall Pines State Preserve. McCormick writes a South Jersey hiking blog called South Jersey Trails. It similar to this blog, but much more in depth. I figured that doing a video interview with him would be a good way to pay homage to what a good hiking blog is supposed to be.

The South Jersey Trails blog has gotten a lot of local attention over the years. It has been featured in other hiking blogs, as well as magazines like Inside Jersey and New Jersey Monthly. There’s been a few other hiking blogs for South Jersey, but they all have died out while South Jersey Trails prevails.

For the blog, he has hiked over 130 trails and plans to hike more in the future. He’s looking to go to some parks in Ocean County, like the one I went to a couple weeks ago called Double Trouble State Park, and some others such as Cattus Island, Wells Mills, and Jake’s Branch county parks.

Outside of hiking in South Jersey, McCormick and his family have hiked in 28 of the 59 National Parks. He listed Yosemite, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Big Ben among them.

McCormick also runs a boy scout troop, which he’s been doing for the last 7-8 years after being an assistant for a few years before that. He was in boy scouts as a kid, the troop he’s with now is the same one from when he was younger. Last weekend he took them up to the Palisades Interstate Park to go camping.

As for the preserve we walked in, Tall Pines State Reserve, it is Gloucester County’s first state-owned park.  110 acres of what used to be a golf course is now a park located in Deptford and Mantua Townships, 12 miles south of Philadelphia.  The Friends of Tall Pines rallied for the disused golf course to be turned into a preserve instead of a housing development, and succeeded.

The Friends of Tall Pines do clean-ups for the park and have information tables about the park at different local fairs and festivals. They plan on trying to remove invasive species as their next big project for Tall Pines.

 

Double Trouble State Park

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Though it’s getting colder, and it is not as scenic as could be, Double Trouble State Park has a beauty to it all year round. Lying in the midst of Ocean County, in Berkeley and Lacey Township, it covers over … Continue reading →

Chief Park Naturalist at Wells Mills County Park

German Georgieff, Wells Mills County Park‘s chief naturalist, talked to me today about different events and programs the park has, trails he likes and would suggest to others, and about some nature conservation going on right now. The 900-acre park is located on Wells Mills Road, Waretown in Ocean County.

 

Beautiful Day for Wenonah Trails

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This Friday I took a small hike on one of the Wenonah Trails in Wenonah, NJ. It was beautiful out, 68 degrees, sunny and a little humid (when is it not in New Jersey?). I was on Frank Eggert trail, … Continue reading →

Rainy Days can Still be Hiking Days

You’ve had this hike planned with your friends for couple weeks, but the day comes and it looks like it’s gonna rain all day.  What do you do? Cancel the hike?  No way! You’ll have to switch up what you’re wearing and take some extra precautions, but after that you’re good to go.

Verticulture by Outdoor Research has a great list of tips for when your hitting that trail in wet weather.

First off, and I’m sure you already guessed, waterproof everything.  If it doesn’t come as waterproof already, like trekking boots and gaiters, then waterproof it yourself.  Your backpack especially, since all your important stuff is inside.  Or you can get a pack cover, which is less expensive than a waterproof backpack and easier than waterproofing it yourself.  Anything inside that is particularly sensitive (i.e. your map) should be in Ziploc or some other kind of plastic bag.

Clothing and how you layer it is just as important.  Tights and long-sleeve shirts are a good base layer, so there’s room for movement under the next one or two layers (depending on the length of the hike and how bad it’s raining).  Wearing synthetic and fleece would be good for the second layer to keep you insulated under your outermost layer.  Even if you don’t have the second layer, the outer layer should consist of a hard shell jacket and pants with vents.

Finally, keep your feet happy.  You’re feet are most likely going to get wet at some point on this trip, whether it’s gradual or immediate.  Your feet will eventually get that soggy, been-in-the-bath-too-long thing going on and that will make your feet blister more easily.  To avoid letting it get even worse, bring natural oils that your socks inevitably rub off your feet.  Not to mention some tape in case you need to wrap up where the blisters are forming.  Those stiff boots are definitely going to make it worse, so if it’s a longer hike it might be a good idea to switch them out for trail runners.  They breathe more and will listen the blister damage.

For these and a few other tips, visit the article, and enjoy your next rainy hike!

Are RV and Cabin Camping Truly Camping?

Google search defines camping as “the activity spending a vacation living in a camp, tent, or camper.”

Dictionary.com: “to live temporarily in or as if in a camp or outdoors, usually for recreation.”

Cambridge Dictionary: “the act of staying and sleeping in an outside area for one or more days and nights, usually in a tent.”

Are RV and Cabin Camping Truly Camping? It’s a question with varying answers.  Many avid campers would say that unless you’re sleeping in a tent and using a kerosene stove and lamp, it’s not camping.  Others would be adamant that cabin camping, with electricity and other amenities, is just as much camping as using a tent.  RV campers fall somewhere in between the two, not as cozy as a cabin and not as hands on as tent camping.

All of these options have their own benefits and reasons to be called camping.

Cabin camping is like leaving your house to go to a smaller, less equipped house.  Most of the time there are pools, playgrounds, and planned activities at these sites.  Not too shabby if you want a nice, outdoorsy vacation while keeping the luxury of electricity.  People who aren’t interested in getting down and dirty, but still want the experience often opt for these campgrounds. South Jersey campsites: Country Oaks Campground, Pleasant Valley Family Campground

Going camping with just a tent and whatever supplies you have is a better way to get in touch with nature, but it’s also more difficult and time consuming.  You have to set up your tent(s) and whatever else you bring with you.  At the same time, it is a good way to getaway from all the things you have at home; a relaxing time with family or friends.  Going out into the woods and doing everything yourself gives you a sense of accomplishment you wouldn’t get otherwise.  South Jersey campsites: Timberlane Campground, Egg Harbor Lake Campground

RVs, or recreational vehicles, are a perfect midway point between tent and cabin camping.  It’s a home away from home, like cabins are and requires much less set up than tents.  On the other hand, it is smaller than a cabin and still requires the use of the ground around it.  There are campgrounds specifically for RV camping or other campsites for tents and RVs.  South Jersey campsites: Chestnut Lake RV Campground, Driftwood RV Resort and Campground

It is a matter of opinion what is considered camping and what is not.  In the end, it is a fun outdoor activity for families, friends and couples.

Glassboro Wildlife Management Area

Considering I’m going to be living in Glassboro for the next few months, I thought I would see what hiking trails are in the area.  The Glassboro Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is only 10-15 minutes from Rowan’s campus and has plenty to offer for those who love the outdoors.

The part I went to was called Scotland Run Park.  It had a playground area and picnic tables at one with the entrance on Whitney Avenue next to Wilson Lake.  A boat launching area and different paths off the road that is located on Fries Mill Rd, also on Wilson Lake. I went to the Fries Mill entrance second and looked around for about an hour.  To get a full scope of the different paths it has I will have to go back sometime soon (and I’ll give this post an update when I do).

Picture of a map in correlation to other sites.

The boat launch area is at the end of  the road, made of rocks, sand and dirt, that opens up into a corresponding parking lot.  There are two docks accessible from the parking area, one for fishing, with seats and railings, and the other next to the launch area.

Taken by my iPhone

From the dock next to the boat launch

I found a path to the right when walking between the trees and parking area, back up from the launch area.  It wasn’t marked with any signs saying it was a trail, but started at the tree line between two square wooden poles placed parallel in the ground.  It was getting later so I didn’t go extremely far, but the path I took was mostly flat.  It was made of dirt and, at one point, some cement that lasted for a couple yards.  This would be good for someone looking for a long, but easy, trail.

Cement part of trail

According to the website: 

Open from dawn till dusk, the WMA contains 2,337 acres of land, made up of streams, ponds, and some cleared fields in low deciduous swamp forest.  It owned by NJ Department of Environmental Protection.  This time of year there are more hunters around so it is suggested to wear bright colors.

Fall is Getting Ready to Accompany You on Your Next Hike

Though we’ve had some warm weeks, the autumn weather is kicking in and that can only mean one thing: beautiful scenery on your next nature walk or hike!

Part of the Ecology Evolution and Natural Resources department of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Dr. Jason Grabosky, told SNJ Today about some of the factors that go into the changing of the leaves.

“Cool nights and clear, blue skies during the day will bring out the reds, as long as there is sufficient water present,” Grabosky said. “With cool nights and rain, the yellows will be bright, but you need the sun to bring the reds out.”

He explains that these colors are always there, but are hidden by chlorophyll in the warm months.

With all these bold colors about to come out, you probably want to know the good places to see them.  In South Jersey there are some great places for hikes and walks.

• Wharton State Forest– A great place to not only hike, but mountain bike, canoe, horseback ride, and observe wildlife.  A big part of the Batona Trail goes through here as well.
• Willow Oak Natural Area– Grassy trails that wind into woodland areas to create a labyrinth of options for hikers and bird-watchers alike.
• Parvin State Park– Hike or take a nature walk through this state park with the option of staying to camp!  Tent and RV sites are available, as well as pet-friendly sites or cabins from April 1 to October 31.
• Bridgeton City Park–  Good for families and lone walkers, this park has over 1,000 acres and many trails to be explored.

For more on the interview with Grabosky and some other nature sites to visit, see the article on snjtoday.com.

An Introduction

My name is Dylann Cohn-Emery.  I am a student at Rowan University majoring in journalism.  I’m making this blog for my online journalism class, but also because I really love hiking, camping, and the outdoors in general!

This blog is for anyone living in/visiting the South Jersey and are looking into hiking or camping.  Even if only a nature enthusiast not looking to go to these places, there will still be something to take away from this site.  My goal is to write about different hiking and camping areas in SJ and give details about them so readers can find the right one for their visit!  I’ll be talking about many aspects, including the rates for campsites, level and length of hiking areas, how they look or if they are being encroached on by land developers and the like.

Camping and hiking are some of my favorite hobbies; usually I go to New Hampshire every couple years to do both.  In the past year I went, and ended up climbing one of the 4,000 footers.  Now that I live in Glassboro, NJ would love to be able to go places around here to hike and camp and I figured others would too.  South Jersey isn’t particularly known for it’s nature locations, even though there are so many and people should know about them.

I hope this blog makes at least one person’s life easier in helping them learn about different camping and hiking areas in the region.