29-Nov-2004 -- I realize that this confluence has been visited several times before, but having grown up in Harrington Park, NJ, less than a mile from the confluence, I just had to visit it. Like the #2 visiter, I had spent plenty of time in my childhood playing in these woods, so visiting this confluence would allow me to reminisce on my childhood while enjoying my unique, new hobby.

I started the trek from my parents' house on Pine Place in Harrington Park. I walked down to the Hackensack river, right where it curves westward and where the towns of Harrington Park, River Vale, and Old Tappan meet. I followed the river west until I reached Westwood Avenue, which crosses the river. I wasn't sure which side of the river I should follow, so I initially guessed the southern (River Vale) side. After a few minutes the river curved south, and since my GPS indicated that the confluence was to the west, I figured I was on the wrong side of the river. So I backtracked to the bridge, crossed back over, and continued on the other side. It was a bit slow going, as I had to slosh my way through the mud and brambles (Heavy rain the previous day had turned a large part of the woods into swampland.), but I finally arrived at confluence, as visitor #6. On the way back, I found and took the trail mentioned by previous visiter to Forest Avenue, which lets out to Westwood Avenue. Too bad I didn't read his commentary beforehand, as I would have had a lot less mud on my shoes and brambles on my clothes!