Last Monday morning before sunrise, I looked out my window and BEGAN TO SCRAMBLE. I need to get dressed, grab the camera, clean off the car and HOPEFULLY complete all this BEFORE the sun begins to peep over the Panther Valley Ridge, which will transform this beautiful scene into a GLISTENING EXTRAVAGANZA!!  This had the potential to be one of those special days, white glistening snow sticking to everything, scattered clouds giving that wonderful contrast of bright sunlit snow with that bluish-gray contrast amid the clouds’ shadows!  I need to get out and get some photos!

Long story short, I am photographing my way out of my house, heading to ?????  Heading to ???? Hm. I am not sure where I am going!!  Fortunately, my question gets answered pretty quickly. I am photographing the sod and farm fields off Youngs Island Road when I notice the newly opened Mallard Drive going up and over the cliff area in Panther Valley!  I knew they had put in a new and paved nature walk between the roadway and the cliffs, so I wonder if they plowed it? I am off! The results are your Photos of the Week.

There had been some discussions between the nature walk builders, Baker Co. the Panther Valley Property Owners Association, and Allamuchy Township officials about the route of the nature walk — and whether to pave it. This paved trail was in pristine condition shortly after the storm and I think it gives ALL visitors, the young and not so young, a wonderful year-round opportunity to get out and enjoy this special area in a comfortable and safe manner.

Charlie’s Tips: Don’t be discouraged by the chill of winter. Leafless trees allow for views not possible the rest of the year. Here, you can get some great views without ever having to leave the paved trail!

NOTE:  It wasn’t until the day progressed, that I realized, that amid all this beauty, there was also a lot of hardships caused by this storm!  The very factors that produced a Winter Wonderland also were the ingredients for some prolonged hardships!  Hopefully, this winter (which isn’t even here yet, the first day is Dec. 21) will be lacking in damage-creating storms!

Panther Valley is a gated community, so for those of you outside the gates, I hope my photo gives you another view of the BEAUTY OF WARREN COUNTY, inside the gates of Panther Valley.

Enjoy Your Open Space

Charlie Fineran

Allamuchy Director Open Space
Allamuchy Township Environmental Commission – Chairman
Allamuchy Historical Society – President