Ramblings from Moe Mountain
- Thread starter Kaleidopete
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Kaleidopete
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Annual Haunted Clinton rd. Halloween bike ride in great weather, lots of fun.
And again the gate to Wildcat preserve was open so I rode up. A couple people working there cleaning up before winter.
I said is this the Halloween party. Then I went into the cabin for some more photos. It’s a nice friendly place.
And again the gate to Wildcat preserve was open so I rode up. A couple people working there cleaning up before winter.
I said is this the Halloween party. Then I went into the cabin for some more photos. It’s a nice friendly place.
Kaleidopete
Well-Known Member
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Kaleidopete
Well-Known Member
Some history on Fred Ferber and the Wildcat Mountain Wilderness Center
Fred Ferber was born in Austria of Jewish heritage. Fred developed a love of nature, science and the out of doors at an early age and spent a lot of time in the parks, mountains and preserves in Austria and Germany as a young man, he was also employed in several machine shops in Hamburg and Duseldorf.
In 1933 in his early 20’s he stowed away in a coal room of a ship and made his way to New York. Initially, Fred had difficulty finding work, but was very motivated to succeed in the US, Fred became one of the earliest manufactures of the ball point pen and eventually built a factory in Englewood, New Jersey and manufactured Ferber pens. Hedwig was from Germany, and was living in the US when Fred arrived, he met her on a hiking club outing in 1935 and they were married a few years later.
The Ferber’s were known conservationists and were active in Sierra Club, Global Education Associates, World Federalists. Appalachian Trail Club, United Nations Associates of USA, and the Jersey Institute. Fred became well known for his endeavors in the fields of energy, science, education and the environment. Much of his energy was devoted to courses advocating a peaceful humane and sustainable planet. As the Ferber pen business grew it became very successful, in part through government contracts, and Fred tok on a partner and expanded sales into Europe. Fred hired numerous adults with disabilities and women to work his plant. The pen business very competitive and eventually He found himself spending much of his time involved with lawsuits to defend his patent. In 1960 Fred sold the business to his partner and soon after it was bought by Parker Pen. The Ferbers began their search for a piece of land on which to create a natural preserve. Fred flew over northern and central New Jersey until one day he flew over Terrace pond and knew this was the area where he wanted to live. In the early 1960’s the Ferbers purchased more than 6000 acres of land in Passaic county from the Zink company of New Jersey. They wanted to preserve this land from development. The annual taxes exceeded $77.000. Eventually most of the property was sold to the New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection and the Ferbers kept 210 acres for their preserve.
Phil Costello and Jos Gonzalez met the Ferbers in the Fall of 1971. The Ferbers had a dream of using their land to teach children about Nature, Wildlife, Ecology, and environmental studies. Phil and Jose were searching for a remote site for a Wilderness Center. Initially, Project Use leased 4.5 acres from Fred for a Basecamp. Fred had an old topographical map from the 1800’s that noted the ridge running through Basecamp as Wildcat Ridge, thus the name Wildcat Mountain Wilderness Center.
Visitors to the Ferbers home would often be treated to the sight of deer and around their property, several raccoons, cats, and a crow living in their home, and a few bears that Fred would feed from his back porch.
On October 4, 1980 Fred died from cancer at the age of sixty seven.
Current Project USE leases 22.5 acres from the DEP, but have access to 50,000 acres of Wawayanda State Park and Newark Watershed .
Fred Ferber was born in Austria of Jewish heritage. Fred developed a love of nature, science and the out of doors at an early age and spent a lot of time in the parks, mountains and preserves in Austria and Germany as a young man, he was also employed in several machine shops in Hamburg and Duseldorf.
In 1933 in his early 20’s he stowed away in a coal room of a ship and made his way to New York. Initially, Fred had difficulty finding work, but was very motivated to succeed in the US, Fred became one of the earliest manufactures of the ball point pen and eventually built a factory in Englewood, New Jersey and manufactured Ferber pens. Hedwig was from Germany, and was living in the US when Fred arrived, he met her on a hiking club outing in 1935 and they were married a few years later.
The Ferber’s were known conservationists and were active in Sierra Club, Global Education Associates, World Federalists. Appalachian Trail Club, United Nations Associates of USA, and the Jersey Institute. Fred became well known for his endeavors in the fields of energy, science, education and the environment. Much of his energy was devoted to courses advocating a peaceful humane and sustainable planet. As the Ferber pen business grew it became very successful, in part through government contracts, and Fred tok on a partner and expanded sales into Europe. Fred hired numerous adults with disabilities and women to work his plant. The pen business very competitive and eventually He found himself spending much of his time involved with lawsuits to defend his patent. In 1960 Fred sold the business to his partner and soon after it was bought by Parker Pen. The Ferbers began their search for a piece of land on which to create a natural preserve. Fred flew over northern and central New Jersey until one day he flew over Terrace pond and knew this was the area where he wanted to live. In the early 1960’s the Ferbers purchased more than 6000 acres of land in Passaic county from the Zink company of New Jersey. They wanted to preserve this land from development. The annual taxes exceeded $77.000. Eventually most of the property was sold to the New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection and the Ferbers kept 210 acres for their preserve.
Phil Costello and Jos Gonzalez met the Ferbers in the Fall of 1971. The Ferbers had a dream of using their land to teach children about Nature, Wildlife, Ecology, and environmental studies. Phil and Jose were searching for a remote site for a Wilderness Center. Initially, Project Use leased 4.5 acres from Fred for a Basecamp. Fred had an old topographical map from the 1800’s that noted the ridge running through Basecamp as Wildcat Ridge, thus the name Wildcat Mountain Wilderness Center.
Visitors to the Ferbers home would often be treated to the sight of deer and around their property, several raccoons, cats, and a crow living in their home, and a few bears that Fred would feed from his back porch.
On October 4, 1980 Fred died from cancer at the age of sixty seven.
Current Project USE leases 22.5 acres from the DEP, but have access to 50,000 acres of Wawayanda State Park and Newark Watershed .
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Kaleidopete
Well-Known Member
A short ride to do some TM today, this is the AT, I like to keep this section clear
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Kaleidopete
Well-Known Member
Well here it is, my 1000th consecutive day riding outdoors. I never planned to do this by the way, it just kinda happened. As the possibility grew closer I figured why not.
Sometimes I’m a sucker for a challenge. 1000 days 1650 hours 12,830 miles
I guess my next goal will be to just finish out this year riding every day, because that isn’t that far away. I also find as I’m getting older that I’m slowing down some. I kind of look forward to it. Not pushing the ride to accomplish something, faster time, farther distance, more time, they’re all traps to my just enjoying the ride and not thinking about anything. I like riding just for the sake of riding. I start out with a plan and then change my mind part way through, just because. I really wish I was a better rider, but I’ll take what I can get. I started biking because I love being outdoors in the park and woods. I used to hike back around 2012 up until 2014, I would daily walk/hike about five miles a day, then my back started acting up and my Achilles went bad, so I went to biking because that didn’t hurt. The future for me is to wake up tomorrow and see how I feel and what I want to do. No big plans, just enjoy the woods.
Sometimes I’m a sucker for a challenge. 1000 days 1650 hours 12,830 miles
I guess my next goal will be to just finish out this year riding every day, because that isn’t that far away. I also find as I’m getting older that I’m slowing down some. I kind of look forward to it. Not pushing the ride to accomplish something, faster time, farther distance, more time, they’re all traps to my just enjoying the ride and not thinking about anything. I like riding just for the sake of riding. I start out with a plan and then change my mind part way through, just because. I really wish I was a better rider, but I’ll take what I can get. I started biking because I love being outdoors in the park and woods. I used to hike back around 2012 up until 2014, I would daily walk/hike about five miles a day, then my back started acting up and my Achilles went bad, so I went to biking because that didn’t hurt. The future for me is to wake up tomorrow and see how I feel and what I want to do. No big plans, just enjoy the woods.
teabagger11
Well-Known Member
Your mantra is awesome Pete just keep doing what you do and enjoy life you are an inspiration
sundaydoug
Well-Known Member
Bravo Pete, that's one hell of an accomplishment. Here's to many, many more days out in the woods!
Kaleidopete
Well-Known Member
You're pretty good yourself, in fact one of the best, with all your exploring
Kaleidopete
Well-Known Member
1/19/2024
Well today it’s been nine years since I joined the MTBNJ group. My time fly’s.
It seems a lifetime of things have gone by since then. I was looking over some old photos of nine years ago and
I am amazed at what my ability was back then to ride my acoustic bikes. Those days are gone along with my power and energy,
e-bikes came along and saved my a$$. I enjoy getting out now as much as I did back then, but other life issues have come into play
to also limit how much I can do. I’m grateful to this group for all the help and support shone to me and all the others on here,
it’s really a great group of friends. Thanks to everyone for all the positive feedback and help along the way.
Still grinding out the miles and having a great time,
Kaleidopete.
some early photos
Fuller Mountain Warwick, NY
building a bridge
group ride
my race
studded
Well today it’s been nine years since I joined the MTBNJ group. My time fly’s.
It seems a lifetime of things have gone by since then. I was looking over some old photos of nine years ago and
I am amazed at what my ability was back then to ride my acoustic bikes. Those days are gone along with my power and energy,
e-bikes came along and saved my a$$. I enjoy getting out now as much as I did back then, but other life issues have come into play
to also limit how much I can do. I’m grateful to this group for all the help and support shone to me and all the others on here,
it’s really a great group of friends. Thanks to everyone for all the positive feedback and help along the way.
Still grinding out the miles and having a great time,
Kaleidopete.
some early photos
Fuller Mountain Warwick, NY
building a bridge
group ride
my race
studded
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sundaydoug
Well-Known Member
Your rides and photos are really an inspiration Pete, looking forward to seeing many more! Where was that second pic taken?
Kaleidopete
Well-Known Member
That's Fuller mountain in Warwick, a short trail that leads to that overlook onto rt 94 Price Chopper
You might want to show them how it's done.
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