Halfway Mountain/Diamond Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County, NY

Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red Blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow Blaze
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze
Hillburn Torne Sebago (HTS) Trail: Orange Blaze
Seven Hills Trail: Black Blaze

Total Time: 3:00 hour (took longer due to snow)
Estimated Distance: 4.5 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult, especially in the snow
Level of Recommendation: Highly recommended. One of the best in Harriman.
Points Of Interest: Excellent climb and views, and very scenic along brook.

Hiking Partners:
Mordy Neuman
Sruly Rosenberg

Google Maps of Parking:

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We has finally gotten a snowstorm. Although there have been a few frigid days here and there, generally this winter has been very warm with no snow. It had finally snowed a real snowstorm, with about 6 inches the day before. We started at the Reeves Measow Parking area on Seven Lakes Drive in Sloatsburg, and headed up along the path along the brook, from the Pine Meadow Trail to the Stony Brook Trail to the Kakiat Trail, past the frozen Cascase of Slid, and from there we took the HTS Trail up Halfway Mountain. We took a break and some pictures here, and then continued to the intersection of the 7 Hills Trail, where there is a very good view. From here going down was really crazy in the snow, and more than once we didn't know how we would make it. Part of the area down required us literally sliding down the side of the rock. Once we got down we crossed the brook and took the Pine Meadow Trail all the way back to the trailhead.

Map of the Route

Mordy & Sruly at the Pine Meadow Brook

Cascade of Slide Waterfall,
Almost Entirely Frozen Over

Frozen Cascade of Slid

Me at the Halfway Mountain Viewpoint.
Facing southwest.

Sruly & Mordy at the Diamond Mountain view.
Facing south.

Diamond Mnt View.
Facing Southwest.

Me and Sruly, Diamond Mnt

Me at rock ad Diamond Mountain

Sliding down the Mountain.
That rock is the same one as above.

View at the Lower part of Diamond Mnt, before descending.
Facing west, towards the Pine Meadow Brook Valley.

Same view as above, facing east-southeast.

Mordy maneuvering down the scramble

Lake Welch and Conklin Mountain

Lake Sebago / Conklin Mountain
Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York
Trails:
Seven Hills Trail: Blue blaze
Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:10 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.8 miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Slightly Recommended. Tranquil, but no view.
Points Of Interest: Good climb, tranquility, and excellent lake views.

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Winter in a larger map

This was my first totally frigid hike of the winter season. When I started the hike, my car thermometer measured 12 degrees. When I finished the hike, it measured 16. At least it was sunny and the wind was minimal. But since I was alone and the weather was so cold, I did a smaller hike than usual.

I started at the Lake Sebago Boatch Launch area off Seven Lakes Drive. It is opposite here that the Seven Hills Trail starts. I took the Seven Hills Trail up the mountain, past the Diamond Brook, and then veered off on the road towards Lake Wanoksink for just a short bit until the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail. I then took the Tuxedo-Mount Ivy Trail down the mountain to the Lake Sebago Dam, and then took the path parallel to the shoreline of the lake heading north back to my car.

Map of the Route

Lake Sebago from the Boat Launch.
This part is entirely frozen with clear ice.

Ice Formations on the Lake Shore.

Another View from the Boat Launch of the Frozen Lake,
with an overturned beached boat.

On the northern part of Diamond Mountain at the intersection
of the 7 Hills and Tuxedo-Mt. Ivy Trail.

The Lake Sebago Dam with 7 Lakes Drive Directly Above.

Southern part of Lake Sebago.
For some reason this part of the Lake was not frozen.

West Mountain Loop

Bear Mountain State Park /
Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Trails:
1777 W Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blazed
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.3 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Good climb and Many excellent views

Hiking Partners:
Debbie and Raphael Koegel

Google Maps of Parking:

View 2012 Winter in a larger map

This was another unseasonably warm day. It was so warm that we didn't even need to wear our coats. We parked at the hiker's trailhead off 7 Lakes Drive near Perkins Drive, took the 1777 W Trail briefly to the Appalachian Trail, and then took the Appalachian up West Mountain. As you are nearing the top there is an excellent view here facing north directly towards Bear Mountain which is opposite. This part of the Appalachain Trail has recently been renovated and slightly rerouted in a few areas.

Continued along to the intersection with the Timp-Torne Trail, and then took the concurrent Appalachian and Timp-Torne trails along the West Mountain Ridge, which continuously passes along excellent views. After the trail split, continued on the Timp Torne, until the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail. We then took the Suffern Bear Mountain Trail slightly down and up again, and then steeply down and then alongside the brook, back to the 177W Trail, and then back to the car.

Map of the Route

View along the Appalachian while ascending West Mountain.
Facing east towards the Hudson and Dunderberg

View of Bear Mountain from the above view. Facing northeast.
Note the Bear Mountain Tower near the left side.

Me and Raphael with Bear Mountain behind us.

Me posing at the same view.

Another pose.

View from West Mountain view over Anthony Wayne.
Facing west with the Palisades Parkway directly below and
Lindley Mountain in the background.

Another view from West Mountain.
Facing South.

Me and Raphael over the Anthony Wayne parking lot.

Raphael on top of a rock formation on West Mountain.

Beech Trail - Hasenclever Mine

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Trails:
Beech Trail: Blue blaze
Hasenclever Road: Not blazed
Red Cross Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.5 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Slightly ecommended
Points Of Interest: Quiet area, historic cemetary, and ancient iron mine

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Maps of Parking:

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We parked on County Rt. 106 after Lake Welch, where the Beech Trail crosses the road, and headed north on the Beech Trail. We passed the old historic cemetary in the woods and continued to the intersection of the Hasenclever Road. We planned on turning on the road but Shimmy found a geocache nearby so we took a small detour on the foot of Nat House Mountain to find the geocache. We then climbed the short climb up Nat House Mountain, then bushwacked down back to the Hasenclever Road towards the Hasenclever Mine.

The Hasenclever Mine was an ancient iron mine from the 1700's, and it is one of the oldest mines in the park. It was mined for Magnetite and Pyrhottite which are iron ores. There is one large water-filled pit and one smaller one, and an extensive overgrown dump. From the mine we took the Red Cross Trail for a brief time towards the path to Lake Askoti, and from there to the unmarked Rockhouse Mountain Trail. We sort of got lost on the unmarked Rockhouse Mountain Trail and ended up having to bushwack to the top of Rockhouse Mountain and then over to the road, and we walked on the road for a short duration.

Map of the route

Old Tombstone in the Cemetary

More Tombstones in the Old Cemetary along the Beech Trail

Shimmy Searching for the Geocache on Nat House Mnt

Shimmy Finds the Geocache at this rock.

Main water-filled pit of the Hasenclever Mine

The mine dumps. Hasenclever Mountain in the Background.

Rockhouse Mountain, the tallest point of Rockland.
Along our bushwack.

Torne View

Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Reeves Brook Trail: White blaze
Seven Hills Trail: Blue blaze
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:40 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.75 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Torne View, Pristine Scenery

Google Maps of Parking:

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This was the first really cold hike of the season. It has been unseasonably warn until now, but I really had to bundle up for this hike. I parked at the Reeves Meadow hiker's trailhead, and took the Pine Meadow Trail for a very brief moment and veered off at the Reeves Brook Trail. This trail slowly climbs the mountain through a very scenic forest route on the side of the small Reeves Brook. I took the Reeve's Brook Trail to the Seven Hills Trail, which I then took south to the Torne View. The Torne view is an excellent one. From there continued along the notch right before the HTS Trail, and then descended the mountain on the Seven Hills Trail, and took this route al the way back to the Pine Meadow which is right by Reeves Brook.

Map of the Route.

People Descending the Scramble on the 7 Hills

View from Torne View. Facing northwest.

Another view from the Torne View. Facing West.

View From the Torne View, facing south
and High Torne Mountain.

View above the notch, facing the Torne View. Facing north.

View from mountain below High Torne.
Facing south towards the landfill.

View from mountain below High Torne.
Facing east at the Power Lines.

Kakiat to Pine Meadow Lake

Kakiat County Park /
Harriman State Park
Rockland Co.,
New York
Trails:
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze
Conklins Crossing Trail: --- blaze
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:50 hr
Estimated Distance: 6 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Recommended
Points Of Interest: Upper Cobus Mountain Views, Pine Meadow Lake

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Maps of Parking:
Start:

View Hiking Blog Localities in a larger map

Finish:

View Hiking Blog Localities in a larger map

This is the first time I am using GPS essentials on my Android phone, and I am using this to track my route and generate maps for me following my exact route.

This was a two car hike. We left one car at the Ramapo Equestrian Center, which is also the trailhead for the Pine Meadow Trail, and then took the other car to Kakiat. This was the first seasonal weather hike, and we required our winter coats for this long and strenuous hike. After parking at Kakiat, we took the Kakiat Trail up the mountain, past the power line, and then at the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail went north and continued along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail to the Conklin's Crossing Trail. Took the Conklin's Crossing to the eastern terminus of Pine Meadow Lake, which was especially quiet and serene this time of year. Pine Meadow Lake has no nearby road access, so all its visitors are hikers. The eastern end is especially quiet.

From there we took the Pine Meadow Trail north, thru the forest and swamp, through its brief connection with the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail, and then down the mountain on the Pine Meadow. I usually take a shortcut where the trail bends out of the way, and judging by the cairns and chainsawed fallen trees, it appears the trailblazers are preparing to reroute the trail to my shorter route. I think this route was the original Pine Meadow Trail route. From there took the trail under the power lines and then along the gas route, and then back to the car.

Map of the Route.
Generated from GPS Essentials following our GPS track.

Lower Cobus Mountain from the Kakiat Trail by Power Lines

View from Cobus Mountain, facing south. On S-BM Trail.

Shimmy descending rocky notch on S-BM Trail.
Note the patchy snow which is on the shady side of the mountain.

View from Upper Cobus Mountain, on S-BM Trail.
Facing east.

View from Upper Cobus Mountain, on S-BM Trail.
Facing northeast, with the Tilcon Haverstraw Quarry in the distance.

Pine Meadow Lake, eastern shore.

Me at Pine Meadow Lake.

Shimmy near the end of the Pine Meadow Trail,
near the Power Lines. Note the new cairns.