[Journal Entry for February 26, 2012; Monksville Reservoir] I first stopped at the lot at the northern end of the Monksville Dam. I was surprised at the size of this concrete dam. It towers about 150 feet above the outlet stream and is about a half mile long. The dam commands a great view of Monksville Reservoir, to the west, and of Wanaque Reservoir, downstream and to the east. I walked the pedestrian lane across the bridge and stood for a few minutes on a bushy rise beside a power transmission tower, gazing out across the lake. I sighted a cardinal in the bushes. I was surprised to see a kayaker, in what appeared to be a surf-ski, out on the lake, for the water is still quite cold. I then walked back along the roadway, so I could peer down at the outflow. The water level must have been high, for the outflow stream inundated some trees. I then drove west on Greenwood Lake Turnpike to the South Boat Launch and hiked up onto Monks Mountain (really just a hill) via Monks Trail (blazed in white). It leads to a nice overlook atop the hill that looks out over the reservoir. While the woods are mostly hardwood, conifers (cedars?) are plentiful among the rock ledges of the hill top. Someone has built a temporary lean-to out of deadfall among them. I continued along the trail, taking it down to lake level, a found a spot where I could get a nice view of the northern arm of the reservoir. I continued on the trail until I reached the North Boat Launch. This area has some picturesque birch trees overhanging the lake. Several people were fishing, including some folk in a rowboat. I continued north and connected with Greenwood Lake Turnpike again, which crosses the reservoir via an earthen causeway. I sighted a red tail hawk flying above the trees. I walked to the west end of the causeway, where I had a nice view of a swampy area. Dead trees stood in the water, their barkless and bleached white trunks lit up by the late afternoon sun. The kayaker paddled by and pulled up to the launch on Beech Road, along the northeast shore of the lake. I walked over and chatted with him for a while. He said that the day was his thirty-ninth kayaking this year. I, who try hard to put in a hundred days during the course of the whole year, was impressed. Sunset was fast approaching, so I walked the road back to the car, rather than the eastern leg of Monks Trail (which makes a loop). About 2:30.