24 



Field Trip of November 6 



Eleven members and friends of the club assembled at the 

 Wanaque-Midvale Station to meet Mr. Worth Smith who 

 substituted for J. Ash ton Allis as leader of the outing. We 

 drove up to the Ringwood Mines where the cars were parked 

 through the courtesy of Supt. S. H. Morrison. It was overcast 

 and the wind was in a threatening quarter but we started out 

 optimistically for Cedar Pond. Passing the idle marching of 

 the old mine we followed a wood road to the northwest, travel- 

 ling through second growth oak-hickory forest. The heavy litter 

 of leaves obscured the ground plants but a few species of poly- 

 pores and a good crop of oyster mushroom were observed. After 

 crossing into New York State we passed a bank with a nice 

 showing of Biomyces roseus. Other lichens nearby were various 

 species and forms of Cladonia. The trail soon came out on a 

 more or less passable road, the old road from Hewitt to Sterling 

 Furnace. The road passed over a height of land and along the 

 descent a spring was found to the right of the road. After cross- 

 ing a stream we left the road turning left up the brook. Some 

 distance up stream a beaver dam was found and evidence of 

 fresh beaver work. A considerable flooded area forced a detour 

 across rough country over a ridge covered with huge boulders. 

 This was not without its reward for the rocks were well popu- 

 lated with smooth and corrugated rock tripe. After the detour 

 the trail led steeply upward to the pond. Cedar Pond has an 

 altitude of 1029 feet. It is wooded to the water's edge. There is 

 a good stand of rhododendron, mountain laurel, some hem- 

 lock and to the north of the pond- a swamp of southern white 

 cedar. Across the pond and beyond to the northeast the fire 

 tower on Stirling Mountain could be seen. After a leisurely 

 lunch we walked perhaps one third of the way around the lake 

 which is probably not over a quarter mile across at any point. 

 The return trip started about 2 o'clock and under the stimulus 

 of rain we made good progress. A short cut took us down to the 

 old road near the trail back to the Mines, which were reached in 

 about an hour. 



After what drying was possible we drove up to Ringwood 

 Manor and spent about an hour inspecting the Manor House 

 and grounds. All hands seemed to consider the outing a success, 

 the weather notwithstanding. John A. Small 



