Ralph Bressler, #4

NJ1K congratulates Ralph Bressler of Livingston Manor, New York (that’s the Catskills!) for becoming the fourth person to complete the NJ1K list. Ralph, a teacher and 3,500 Club Member, started NJ1K in the summer of 2009 with a few Kittitinny Peaks and completed the Garden State Grand Slam a year later in the southern Highlands. Though she didn’t climb every mountain on the list, Ralph’s dog Sheba gets some credit for becoming the first canine to reach near-completion status.

As a Catskillian with great peaks like Slide, Panther, and Balsam in his backyard, Ralph had not hiked much in New Jersey prior to NJ1K. He had done Tammany, Paradise, and the whole Kittitinny Ridge before NJ1K came along, but he “hadn’t even realized those were in New Jersey and not Pennsylvania,” he admits, “but I am much better informed now thanks to [the Club].”

Ralph said that the Bearfort Ridge peaks were favorites, along with the Kittitinnies. The Ramapo Peaks, four of which Mr. Bressler did in one day, were the most challenging.

Again, the Club congratulates Ralph on his accomplishment and thanks him for his support.

July 2010, Jeffrey Bennett