WEST MILFORD — West Milford Community Services and Recreation is offering Don Weise’s Baker’s Dozen Hikes. These are moderately paced, intermediate-level hikes on West Milford’s 120-mile network of New York-New Jersey Trail Conference volunteer-maintained trails. You must be in reasonably good cardiovascular condition. Bring lunch, plenty of water and any personal meds in a small backpack. Be sure to email the instructor at donweise@hotmail.com and ask to be put on the communication list. You will be emailed hike details, directions and a map link prior to the hike.
Each hike is $19 ($10 additional for out of town registrants). All participants must be at least 18 years old.
Jan. 5, 2014, 9:30 a.m.: Wawayanda Lakes Loop. Celebrate the New Year with a beautiful hike among evergreens, frozen lakes, wetlands and iron mining remnants of beautiful Wawayanda State Park. Proper winter hiking gear and footwear required. Distance: approximately six miles.
Feb. 23, 2014, 9:30 a.m.: Skylands Signs of Color Hike. The mountains, meadows and ponds around New Jersey Botanical Gardens are surprisingly colorful in wintertime. Break out of cabin fever mode and check out the arboretum, bamboo/grasses, views and curiosities on this six-mile loop hike. Proper winter hiking gear and footwear required.
March 23, 2014, 9:30 a.m.: Big Beech and Jennings Mountain. The first hike of spring is one of the steepest and most challenging of all the Baker’s Dozen hikes. Includes a steep bushwhack and a second big ascent. Excellent views of Greenwood Lake and Monksville Reservoir. Strong legs, cardiovascular fitness and a willingness to hike off-trail are required for this seven-mile adventure.
Call the Recreation Department at 973-728-2860 for additional information or for registration information. You may also sign up for these hikes by visiting the township Web site at www.westmilford.org.