Schooley's Mountain

Infobox Mountain
Name = Schooley's Mountain
Photo = schooleys1.jpg
Caption = Schooley's Mountain near Long Valley, NJ
Elevation = 1,120 feet (507 meters)
Location = New Jersey, USA
Range =
Prominence =
Coordinates = coord|40|47|57|N|74|48|50|W|type:mountain_region:US
Topographic
USGS
First ascent =
Easiest route = road

Schooley's or Schooleys Mountain is a mountain ridge in northern New Jersey that stretches from Lake Hopatcong in the north to Hampton in the south. It is the last ridge in the group of parallel mountains that includes Allamuchy Mountain and the Kittatinny Mountains before the Piedmont Plateau and drop off to New York City.

Geography

Schooley's Mountain is separated from Musconetcong Mountain by a gap and the valley of Spruce Run, which bifurcates the mountain itself higher in its course. The mountain ridge extends about 20 miles northeast, being separated by Budd Lake and the South Branch Raritan River from Mooney Mountain. The northeasternmost point looks out upon Waterloo and the Musconetcong River, the valley of which lies upon its northwestern side; on the southeastern side is German Valley, drained by the South Branch Raritan River.

Prominent subsidiary peaks include Mount Kipp (951 feet), at the southeastern tip, and Point Mountain (935 feet), overlooking Anderson in the Musconetcong Valley. The summit of the ridge proper lies in a wooded area behind private homes on Kim Lane, on the northeastern part of the ridge.

The community of Schooley's Mountain is on top and in the middle of the ridge, which rises about 400–800 feet above the surrounding valley.

History

The mountain is named for the Schooley family, Quaker landowners in the area during the 1790s.

The mountain air and the chalybeate springs on the mountain once made it a fashionable summer destination. For similar reasons, a state tuberculosis sanatorium was once located around Mount Kipp.

Many small iron mines were worked on the mountain in the late 19th century; remains of some are still visible today. Granite was also quarried from the mountain.

The main crossing at the mountain is Schooley's Mountain Road, formerly Washington Turnpike. General George Washington noted in his diary that he considered the route from "Dutch Valley to Schooley's Mountain a hazardous and round about thoroughfare."

Recreation

While much of the flatter terrain on the ridge has been cultivated or, more recently, developed for residential housing, much of Schooley's Mountain is still wooded. On the northwest side, Cataract Park, along [schooleys mt. road/route 24] , preserves a waterfall and an old mine opening on the steep side of the ridge. Schooley's Mountain County Park, the former YMCA Camp Washington, encloses the valley of [Long valley] and small Lake George on the southeastern side of the mountain. Lake George has been drained and dredged but swimming is no longer permitted .The Electric brook runs from lake george over several waterfalls in the park before it reaches the south branch of the rarian river. The park offers boat rental and numerous amenities above and beyond hiking. One of the completed segments of Patriots' Path runs through the park.

References

* "Christmas in Long Valley 2005 House Tour", Washington Township Historical Society.

External links

* [http://history.rays-place.com/nj/war-hackettstown.htm History of Hackettstown]
* [http://www.morrisparks.net/parks/schooleysmain.htm Schooley's Mountain County Park]