[Bill Menke’s Journal for October 21, 2013; Ramapo Valley Reservation, Mahway NJ] The day is very clear and the fall foliage in southern New York is spectacular. I take a lunchtime trip to Ramapo Valley Reservation, off of Route 202 in Mahwah NJ, to view it. This park straddles the Ramapo fault, and includes a sliver of of the lowlands of the Newark basin as well as Monroe Ridge, in the New Jersey Highlands. It is a very popular place. Today many people are about; some are their dogs. I walk across the Ramapo River via a pedestrian bridge. The river is flowing slowly. Some anglers are casting from its banks. The vegetation here is mostly still green. Scarlet Oak Pond is just beyond the bridge. Again, the trees in the immediate vicinity of the water have not yet reached their fall peak, but the trees on Monroe Ridge, which towers over the pond, are truly spectacular. I walk from view point to view point along the shore of the pond, admiring them. The most common color is bright orange, but there are some yellows and reds, too. I then take a woods road that follows the outlet stream of MacMillan Reservoir, a small impoundment about a half mile up the road. The steam flows over a substantial waterfall. I have climbed down into the ravine on a previous visit to view it; today it is in deep shadow, so I skip it. I walk as far as MacMillan Reservoir dam and stand on this concrete structure gazing out into the water. The surrounding hills are lower than Monroe Ridge, but just as colorful. A few other people are about. One woman is letting her do swim in the lake. I then head back, enjoying the sun, which is lighting up the yellow leaves of the beech trees along the side of the woods road. About an hour.