Baldpate Mountain is located in Hopewell NJ.
There are 10 miles of hiking trails on Baldpate and while I have walked many of the trails, I have never completed the entire Blue Trail. Usually, when we bring the kids, we choose the Red Loop Trail. If I am out with my friends, we will hike the Ridge Trail.
My Littlest just turned 3 years old this week and his desire to show off his speed, climbing, and balance is in over-drive. We decided to hike a trail with a lot of rocks to hop and climb on so that he could burn off some of his Wild Boy energy.
My oldest was confused asked me, “Why are we parking at this parking lot?” He had been all over Baldpate Mountain with me in the baby carrier as an infant, later as a toddler and now as a “really old” 5-year old. He was quite distressed and insisted that we were “NOT at Baldpate Mountain”. He loves the vista from the meadow near Strawberry Mansion, which is also one of my favorite places in the Sourlands. After I explained that we would still see the view but we had to climb big rocks to get there, both Wild Boys were ready to go!
Even at my age, I love stepping stones as much as my kids.
I appreciate the whole body effort of my Littlest. He will hop across all those stones just like his big brother.
Horizontal logs are an absolute must when perfecting those balancing skills.
Littlest and I had hiked part of the Blue Trail when he was a few months old and we had stopped at this very same log to look at all of the nutshells. I love how you will see some of the same familiar sights even if you haven’t been on that trail for 1.5 years.
We all get in on the rock hopping fun!
Peak-a-boo!
A Sourland boulder must always be appreciated and climbed.
Shagbark Hickory, Carya ovata, is a popular roosting place for many bat species in the Eastern United States. The Indiana Bat, Myotis sodalis, in particular, likes to hide within the loose bark of this tree.
One of the reasons I love winter hikes is that you can discover the hidden views. During the summer when all of the leaves are out, this view will be completely different.
I believe that this is some sort of non-native Buttercup, possibly Winter Aconite, Eranthis hyemalis.
Common Snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis, making an appearance.
I love all of the big trees on this side of the mountain.
Taking a little break.
Multiflora Rose, Rosa Multiflora, is already sending out new leaves – in February! It has been alarming how mild this winter has been and I am so afraid of how this affects our ecosystem as a whole. There is such a thin balance between bloom times, insect emergence, migrations, and breeding season that when one thing starts too early, the whole balance is thrown off.
A hardscrabble up these rocks!
Garlic Mustard, Alliaria petiolata, leafing out early. Unfortunately, this invasive is almost always one of the first plants I see to leaf out in the spring. But let’s be honest, it is still winter! Garlic Mustard is edible and can be substituted for garlic in pesto. Yum!
Running to the world’s edge – also known as the “septic mound”… We usually travel to the higher meadow but when the Wild Boys saw this wide-open view, they took off.
Rolling down the mountain.
Snacks after a hike well done!
Dinosaurs love to climb boulders!
They are off!
Sometimes, little dinosaurs need a bit of reassurance. I love holding hands with my brave dinosaurs as they explore
Littlest found an American Beech, Fagus grandifolia, nut.
Summiting the highest point he can find!
My big dinosaur reminds me of an iguana basking in the sun!
Sourland boulders.
Two dinosaurs planning some mischief!
I love how this tree is growing directly on this rock. Where there is a will there is a way!
White Rattlesnake Root, Prenanthes alba. 
American Witch Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, seed capsule.
American Witch Hazel flower buds. They will be blooming any day now!
If there is a boulder, this dinosaur will have to climb it!
The sulfur yellow buds of Bitternut Hickory, Carya cordiformis.
Littlest Dinosaur points the way to go home!
“What are you putting in your pockets little dinosaur?”
Bitternut, Carya cordiformis, nuts!
White Wood Aster, Eurybia divaricata (Aster divaricatus), looking so lovely in the October morning light.
Indian Pipe, Monotropa uniflora, in fruit. Indian Pipe is a parasitic plant and receives its nutrients from a host rather than photosynthesis. The plant is white because it does not contain chlorophyll and as it ages and produces fruit, it turns brown.
Red Oak, Quercus rubra, acorn!
Shagbark Hickory, Carya ovata, nuts!
The bounty from our adventure!
My big dinosaur wanted to give back the food he had gathered to the woodland creatures, so he carefully sorted each of the nuts and left them out on the rock to be found.
I love the smell of the forest after a rain, the commingling of fresh and musky. I was on the trail before 8 am, and the forest was bursting with bird songs and the rustling sounds of unseen animals. A morning hike is a wonderful way to start the day. It always refreshes me and renews my connection with the Earth.
The magenta flowers of Smartweed, Persicaria spp., stood out beautifully against the green backdrop.
Even though the idea of trying to identify Sedges to species level gives me agita, I always love to see them in flower.
Jewelweed, Impatiens capensis, studded with water droplets that look like crystals.
Peek-a-boo! No berries are safe from me!
These wiggly squiggly lines are from a leaf minor, Liriomyza eupatoriella, who uses White Snake root, Eupatorium rugosum, as its host for its larva.
Sassafrass, Sassafras albidum, looking picture perfect this morning.
I think this is American Jumpseed, 
This white tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, looked pretty annoyed that I startled them out of the bed.
Stickseed, Hacklia virginiana. I love that the fruits look like little ornaments hanging off the branches. I don’t love how they stick to just about everything!
When I first saw this I thought it was a fruit until I picked it up and realized it was hollow. This is a gall, which is an abnormal growth on a plant that is triggered by a pest or a disease.
A sea of Hogpeanuts, Amphicarpaea bracteata. Have you ever seen someone and totally blanked on their name even though you knew them? Well, that happened to me when I saw the Hogpeanuts. I knew I knew the name but I just stared at it blankly and couldn’t retrieve it from my mental rolodex.
White Avens, Geum canadense. The young leaves of this plant sort of look like strawberry leaves.
When I saw this bench tucked in the woods, I imagined a person sitting there, deeply in thought while writing beautiful poetry.
This Jewelweed, Impatiens capensis, came up through the boardwalk. It is a common plant but I always feel happy when I see the brilliant orange flowers.
I am pretty sure this is Heal-all, Prunella vulgaris. There aren’t any flowers on it, but based upon the leaves and the flowering stalk I am pretty sure that is what it is. I really love the purple flowers of this little plant!
Black-and-gold Flat Millipede Apheloria virginiensis. Apparently these little critters produce a cyanide substance that can cause skin irritation so please look but do not touch!
The trail was littered with fruit! Pignut hickory (Carya glabra), Bitternut (Carya cordiformis), Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata), Pin Oak (Quercus pallustris), Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida).
Isn’t this little pond gorgeous?! Hearing the frogs and finding this pond was the highlight of my morning.
What a perfect place to come and just be with nature. It was so loud and so quiet at the same time.
SourlandNiche 
