Mount Laurel, Mount Laurel, New Jersey

     On July 2, 2015, I wrote about the "mountain" that gave Mount Holly its name.  Mike and I decided to climb Mount Laurel today.  Mount Laurel's "mountain" is located at the intersection of Hainesport-Mount Laurel Road and Moorestown-Mount Laurel Road, just behind Farmer's Hall.  We wanted to see the National Geodetic Survey marker on the top of the hill.

You might be tempted to take the easy way to the top, using the nice, wide road.  The sign warns that the road is private property and says. "NO TRESPASSING."  Thumbs down to this route. 

We decided to ascend by using a narrow trail marked with a yellow trail marker in an area identified as a New Jersey State Park.  Thumbs up.

This was a spur of the moment escapade, so I was wearing one black, strappy sandal and one black boot for old ladies with fractured big toes.  Don't go hill climbing with this type of footwear.  It was especially uncomfortable trying to get up this steep slope.  It's nice that there was a bench at the top. 

The yellow trail lead us to the forbidden roadway.  We decided to  walk the rest of the way to the top using the road.  "NO TRESPASSING" signs be damned.

We found a building and a microwave tower.  There was scary sign warning that staying near the building could expose a person to excessive amounts of  radiation.  We picked up the yellow trail again and searched for the geodetic marker.

This part of the trail was wide and clear; however, most areas were narrow with lots of  decomposing leaves.

The highlight of the walk was finding this Indian Pipe plant.  Indian Pipe is also known as Ghost Plant or Corpse Plant.  Indian Pipe grows in dark, wooded areas in European Russia, Asia, North America, and northern South America.  It is a perennial plant that grows and flowers from June through September.  It is 4 to 10 inches tall.  Each stem produces one flower.   The flowers are a favorite of bumble bees.  When the plant ages, it turns black.  Indian Pipe is white because it has no chlorophyll.  It is a parasitic plant that lives on the fungi associated with certain tree roots.  Indian Pipe most often appears after a rain.  These plants are rare. 

Mike, in Repose, at the Top of the Second Hill
Mount Laurel is like a Bactrian (two humped) camel.  There was a second hill behind the front hill.  We searched the top of the second hill, but we couldn't find the survey marker.  Finally, we saw a really narrow trail leading to the back of the cell tower.

We found the marker outside of the fence that surrounded the tower.  The marker was placed here in 1935.

If you go looking for the geodetic survey marker, follow the orange trail markers, not the yellow ones.  Wear sensible walking shoes, and spray yourself with DEET.  Mike found a tick climbing up his leg.  I've had the creepy-crawlies ever since.