Sunday, April 24, 2022

Bear Mountain Summit Loop Spring Hike

Bear Mountain State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White Blaze
Appalachian Trail Spur: Blue Blaze

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.5 Miles

Pros: Excellent views and scenery
Cons: Busy on top with many people
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Easy

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/kvbgYNm1aL1Moui67

Map of the Route


Hudson River from the Northern View





Large Rock on the Appalachian Trail


View Facing Queensboro Lake













View of the Hudson River and Peekskill from the Summit

View of the Timp from the Summit



Bear Mountain Summit Tower

Monday, April 18, 2022

Kakiat Spring Hike

Kakiat County Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange Blaze
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze
Old Mill Trail: Blue Blaze

Total Time: 1:15 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.4 Miles

Pros: Good hike, scenic views
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Difficult

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/NkxXbLfHSQyV3yc3A


Mahwah River

View from Kakiat Upper Summit


Vulture







Grandview Ave from Kakiat


Fresh Greenery on the Old Mill Trail


Great Blue Heron in the Mahwah River

Sunday, April 10, 2022

Chikahoki Falls Norvin Green Forest

Norvin Green State Forest
Passaic Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Wyanokie Crest Trail: Yellow blaze
Hewitt-Butler Trail: Blue blaze
Highlands Trail: Blue blaze
Posts Brook Trail: White blaze
Chikahoki Fire Road: Unblazed

Total Time: 1:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.1 Miles

Pros: Scenic falls
Cons: Area Flooded and hard brook crossing
Hike Type: Loop
Level of Difficulty: Easy, except for brook crossing

Google Maps of Parking:
https://goo.gl/maps/ZPQG1i8xYRxauUvP9

I am going to be focusing on putting together a book on hiking in the local area. I am therefore going to be spending less time on my blog, and devoting more time on the book. I am going be minimizing the write-up of each post and focusing on just providing the details and pictures. I'll still do a write-up on some of the exceptional hikes, though.

For this hike, the water level was very high, leading to flooding conditions and very difficult brook crossings. However, it did result in several great waterfalls, including the Chikahoki Falls which was flowing very strongly!

I took the Wyanokie Crest Trail to Posts Brook, which was difficult to cross because of all the water. I took it to the combined Hewitt-Butler Trail/Highlands Trail which I took down to Chikahoki falls, pasing several smaller falls along the way. The trail only gets a side view of the falls.

I continued on the trail to the Posts Brook Trail, and by the crossing of the trail it was totally washed out and unpassable, with deep flowing water. I ended up rolling up my pants, taking off my shoes and socks, and walked into the water and out, drying myself up after, to continue the hike. This was the first time I had ever done this!

I then continued along the Chikahoki Fire Road to the falls on the other side of the brook, where there is a much better view of the falls, and continued up the trail back to the parking area.

Map of the Route


Boulders Along the Trail

Overflowing Trail Crossing on the Posts Brook





Cascade on Posts Brook


Top of Chikahoki Falls

Chikahoki Falls