Thursday, August 29, 2019

Rideau River Provincial Park

Kemptville,
Leeds & Grenville Counties,
Ontario,
Canada

Hiking Trails:
Shoreline Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:50 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Scenic walk along river shoreline
Cons: Lots of mosquitoes

I had taken a camping trip with my family to the Ottawa area in Canada, and stayed at the Rideau River Campground in Rideau River Provincial Park. The park is alongside the Rideau River, with a hiking trail along the shore. The trail is 1.4 miles long, and I took it roundtrip. I started in the campground area, in the middle of the park, and headed north, past the fishing dock and picnic area, to the northern end of the park. I think turned back around and went south to the other end of the park. I then walked long the campground road back to my campsite.

Satellite Map of the Route 

Rideau River from the Northern Shore

Cattails along the Shoreline

Fisherperson along the Rideau River

Hiking Trail Marker on the Shoreline Trail

View from the Boat Dock

Me on the Boat Dock

View of the Boat Dock on the Rideau River

One of Several Information Plaques on the Rideau River

Sign at the Beginning of the Shoreline Trail

Bridge on the Trail Along a Brook

Marshy Area Near the Western End of the Shoreline Trail

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

West Mountain LinkedIn Hike

Harriman/Bear Mountain State Parks,
Rockland and Orange Counties,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Anthony Wayne Trail: White blaze
Fawn Trail: Red blaze
Timp-Torne Trail Blue blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Good climb, great views
Cons: None

Hiking Partners:
Shimon Rosenberg
Ari Gunzburg
David Lichtenstadter
Elliot Weiss
Eliezer Hott
Davkd Chait
Mak Zipper
Jacob Cohen

I put together a hike that I organized on LinkedIn, and the result was several hike-minded professionals that joined for this great hike. We parked at Anthony Wayne Recreation Area on the Palisades Parkway, and took the Anthony Wayne Trail to the Fawn Trail. We took the Fawn Trail to the Timp-Torne Trail at the ridgecrest, and climbed up the mountain along the ridge on the Timp-Torne Trail.

What I like about the trail are the continuous views along the ascent, climaxing with views of both the east and west sides of the mountain. At the top where we connected with the Appalachian Trail we took a quick rest at the view before descending. We descended along the Appalachian Trail, taking it to the Fawn Trail, back to the Anthony Wayne Trail and back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Narrow Rock Crevice on the Timp-Torne Trail

First View at the Timp Torne Trail

Ascending West Mountain

Group Photo Along the West Mountain View

View of Bear Mountain

View Looking North

View Looking West

View Looking Southwest

View Facing Northeast to Bear Mountain

Mark Zipper Ascending the Final View

View at the Top Near Sunset

Me at the West Mountain Sunset

Group Photo at the Top View

Another Group Photo

View Facing South

Me at the Appalachian Train View on the Descent

Me with Ari Gunzburg and Shimon Rosenberg
Ari's Website can be accessed at www.arigunzburg.com

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Breakneck Ridge Shortest Loop

Hudson Highlands State Park,
Dutchess/Putnam Co.
New York

Hiking Trails:
Breakneck Ridge Trail: White blaze
Undercliff Trail: Yellow blaze
Connector Trail: Green blaze
Brook Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:30 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.7 Miles

Pros: Challenging climb with amazing views
Cons: Extremely busy with many people

Hiking Partners:
Rayzi Friedman
Joseph Friedman

Breakneck Ridge is one of the most challenging hikes in the region. The climb is a very steep and steady climb of 1500 feet from sea level to the top of the mountain. It has become very popular and busy in recent years, especially on weekends. Nevertheless, I still try to make a trek up the mountain at least once a year. I had not been here in over a year and decided it was due time to make another hike here.

It had been raining overnight, with the morning still cloudy and very steamy. It was hot in the morning, but as we continued the heat increased. I did not know this, but there was a heat advisory because of a high heat index from high temperatures and high humidity. I found myself much more challenged than usual on this hike, and was more exhausted on this hike than in previous times scaling this mountain. Looking back, it makes sense because of the heat index.

We parked along the side of the road on Route 9D together with the many other cars here, and took the Breakneck Ridge Trail up the mountain. We continued straight up on this difficult ascent until reaching the Undercliff Trail. My original plan was to continue further for a longer loop, but due to the heat, humidity, and me feeling week, we decided to take this shorter route.

As we descended along the Undercliff Trail, on the southern side of the mountain, we noticed a new trail blazed which cuts a shortcut to the Brook Trail. This new green-blazed trail connects the trails avoiding the additional ascent on the Undercliff Trail. We then took the Brook trail to its terminus at Route 9D, and then walked north along Route 9D, under the tunnel, back to our car.

Map of the Route

Info Kiosk at the Beginning of the Hike with Volunteers Helping People

The Beginning Ascent

Me at the Beginning Ascent

Storm King Shrouded in Clouds Across the River

Zoomed int to Storm King. Note the Kayakers in the Hudson River

Me at the First Viewpoint

Ascending a Large Boulder Face

View with Storm King Across the River

The American Flat and the Hudson River

View Facing North, Towards Pollepel Island

View Across the River and Towards Newburgh

View Facing South with Route 9D and the Metro North Railroad

Zoomed in to Pollepel Island

Storm King Mountain and a Large Freight Train Across the River

Another View of the Flag and Storm King

View Towards Bull Hill towards the Southeast

View on the Ascent

Profile of Bull Hill

Me in front of Bull Hill

The Start of the Undercliff Trail

Plaque for the new Green-Blazed Connector Trail

Breakneck Ridge from the Road

Approaching the Tunnel on Route 9D