Cold temps, hot chocolate

Participants braved 10-15 degree temperatures to take part in the Kittatinny Valley State Park eighth annual Hot Chocolate Hike last Saturday morning. From the young to the young-at-heart, hikers of all ages made the three-mile journey through scenic Andover. Guided by Park Naturalist Lynn Groves Lussier, the route began on the Blue Trail, onto the Sussex County Rail Trail across Whites Pond, and finished on the White Trail. Lussier made several stops along the way to speak about the park, the railroads that coursed through the area, and to identify several types of birds, flora, and fauna. The event concluded at the Visitors Center where the trekkers enjoyed hot chocolate, cookies, and good conversation. Created in 1994, Kittatinny Valley State Park holds nature hikes every weekend and has special events throughout the year. Some of those events include the Tykes Hike, Story Hour, and the Owl Prowl. The Visitor’s Center houses a life-size diorama and a wealth of educational information inside and an award winning Butterfly and Hummingbird garden outside. Entrance to the park and all programs are free of charge but participants must register in advance for all programs. For more information, go to www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/index.html or call 973-786-6445.