Kakiat During Hurricane Irene

Kakiat County Park
Rockland County,
New York

Total Time: 1:40 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.2 miles

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: orange blaze
Kakiat Trail: white blaze

Hiking Parter:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Map of Parking:

View Hiking Blog Localities in a larger map

Hurricane Irene was not the monster they thought it would be, and it hit the area as a powerful tropical storm instead of a full-blown hurricane. However, the amount of rain it dropped on the area was absolutely incredible, with an excess of 11 inches in about a 12 hour period. The flooding in the area was historical and catastrophic, with many roads and bridges washed away.

The rain had ended and the sun was peeking through the cloud cover, and the winds had died down so we thought it was safe to venture out to a nearby hike. Actually we should have taken the warning signs to stay put as almost all the roads to get to there were closed by downed trees or downed power lines. I didn't quite realize just how bad things were until stepping out and heading for the hike. We eventually got to Kakiat, and noticed there was no way to get in - the Mahwah River had entirely flooded the area as well as the entrance and parking area to Kakiat. Not wanting to miss out, I drive to a more obscure entrance at West Gate Road through the back route. The road there was also flooded but still passable.

I parked the car and we proceeded to venture in, but a large tree was blocking the entrance and there was a full stream flowing on the path. I was wearing boots so was able to go into the flood stream and over the fallen tree. We took some views of the area entirely flooded and stood in disbelief at the speed and force that the river was flowing. The entire area was under water, and some parts were simply washed away, including the new foot road they built from the park entrance. We proceeded to climb the mountain, and for almost the entire way up the path was a flowing stream and waterfall. We finally got to the top, took some pictures of Manhattan which were clearly viewable under the gray cloud cover, and then proceeded our way down. As we were on our way back, the winds started picking up and then became very intense. The gusts started blowing severely and we were getting really scared as branches were starting to fall all over the place. We picked up speed and ran back to the refuge of our car.

I had mistakenly thought that once the rain ended and the sun came out that the storm was over. But we were in for a surprise with the howling winds that picked up afterwards. Had we known about this we would never have ventured out. I am glad we made it back and able to write this in the blog.

Map of the Route.
I forgot to include the detour of the gas line path
and the Kakiat Trail at the bottom of the mountain.

The Kings Gate Entrance to Kakiat.
Note the downed tree and stream on the path.

The Mahwah River way over its banks.
Note the park benches underwater.

The Overflowing Mahwah River near the new bridge.
Ironically that sign in the water says "No Swimming".

The road totally overflowing and washed away.
I am standing on the bridge over the river -
all this ahead is supposed to be dry.

The beginning of the orange trail.
Much of the trail looked this way with fallen branches strewn about.

The orange Mountain Trail is one big waterfall all the way down.

The Manhattan Skyline in the Distance from the top of Kakiat

The flooded Kakiat Trail

Parks Department Crew replacing the washed out path.
This photo was taken several days later when they were replacing the washed out road.

Breakneck Ridge and Sugarloaf

Hudson Highlands State Park,
Putnam and Dutchess Counties,
New York

Total Time: 3:20 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Very Difficult (Serious Rock Scrambling almost the whole way up 1200 feet)
Level of Interest: Highly Recommended; one of the best hikes.
Points Of Interest: Outstanding scramble up the mountain, fabulous views

Trails:
Breakneck Ridge Trail: White blaze
Wilkinson Trail: Yellow blaze

Hiking Partner:
Sruly Rosenberg

Breakneck Ridge is one of my most favorite hikes in the region. It is perhaps the most challenging and rewarding of all the hikes in the Hudson Highlands region. Its an intense and challenging hike, and requires scrambling on hands on feet almost all the way up. One of the only disadvantages is that due to its popularity is always very busy and full of hikers, especially on weekends. My usual route is up the ridge and then down through the notch and the Corning Estate, but I decided to do a different route this time but way of Sugarloaf Mountain, which is a hike I have never done before.

We parked on Route 9D right after the Breakneck mountain tunnel where the road goes under the mountain. We hiked up Breakneck and took in all the climbs, scrambles, and views, and continued along past the summit. Our goal was to make it to Sunset Point and then head down the Wilkinson, but the hour was getting late so we cut across north along the unmarked path that is shown on path going along the Cascade Brook. The path is shown on the Trail Conference Maps but you may have to bushwack a little to find it. We took that path until the Wilkinson Trail, which then started climbing to the summit of Sugarloaf. Sugarloaf has an outstanding view on its summit, though it is not quite as tall as Breakneck which is visible directly south or Storm King directly across the river. From the summit we continued down to the bottom of the mountain and then down to the road where we had to walk just a little to get to our car.

Google Map of Parking:

View Hiking Blog Localities in a larger map

Map of the Route.

At the first part of the scramble.

At the first view on Breakneck.
Facing south with Crow's Nest on the right,
The Hudson River, Route 9D, and Bull Hill.

Sruly Atop the first Breakneck View

Me at the First Viewpoint with the Flag

Kayaking Group Below in the Hudson.
Taken From the First View.

Continuing the Ascent

Storm King Mountain on the other side of the Hudson River

Sruly Near the Summit.

View Atop Sugarloaf. Facing North,
Toward the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge

Another View from Sugarloaf. Facing northwest.

Me with Dead Tree atop Sugarloaf.
Behind the Hudson River is the edge of Breakneck,
with Schunnemunk in the background.

Rockhouse Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County,
(and a touch of Orange County),
New York

Trails:
Beech Trail: Blue Blaze
Long Path: Green Blaze
Rockhouse Mountain Trail: Unblazed
Bushwacks and unmarked trails

Total Time: 1:40 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.5 Miles

Rockhouse Mountain is the highest point in Rockland County, at 1283 feet above sea level. I looked at the maps to see if there was a higher point in Rockland but couldn't find any, although there are several points that make it very close. Surprisingly, there is no trail that ascends this mountain. However, there is an easy climb to the Rockhouse viewpoint which is short and right off the road, and it offers an excellent view. I drive by this mountain almost on a weekly basis, and this was the first time I decided to get out and climb it despite there being no trail up.

I parked on Gate Hill Road/Lake Kanawauke Dr near the end of of its snaking route along Rockhouse Mountain. I parked near the end of Rockhouse where it dips down, right after the "Rock House" located on the Trail Conference Map. I ascended the steep rocky portion of this mountain to the very good view, which faces south and east. There is somewhat of a eroded trail along the top ridge, though it eventually fades in the shrubs. The view is not at the true summit; to reach the true summit you have to bushwack a bit to the east past the viewpoint.

I continued bushwacking past the summit, then bushwacked down the mountain towards the Beech Trail. Continued for a short distance on the Beech Trail to the Rockhouse Mountain Trail. This trail is unmblazed and cuts accross from the Beech until the unmarked road that starts at Lake Askoti. It is a well-known unblazed trail and is unofficially marked throughout its length by rock pile cairns. I took this trail until the unmarked road beyond Lake Askoti, and then headed along that trail to the shore of Lake Askoti near where it intersects 7 Lakes Drive. From there I took the Long Path south back towards where I parked my car.

Map of the Route
Harriman State Park, Rockland Co, NY

Rockhouse Mountain from the Road.
Climbed this steep rocky area to get to the View.

Ascending Rockhouse Mountain, with the road in view.

View atop Rockhouse Mountain, facing West.

View atop Rockhouse Mountain, facing south,
with Jackie Jones Tower in view in the center-left.

Cairn at the Northern end of the Rockhouse Mountain Trail.

A Very Gray Lake Askoti.

Lake Askoti With part of Pine Swamp Mnt Behind.

Kakiat Park under flood

Rockland County,
New York

Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 1:00 hr
Estimated Distance: 1.75 Miles

There had been an enormous rainstorm on Sunday with about 5 inches rain within a 24 hour period. The day after this storm there was flooding all over the area, so I figured this would be a good day to hike at Kakiat which is prone to flooding to observe this. Since it was a weekday (I had not been able to hike on Sunday because of the rain), I had to keep this hike short.

Started at the Kakiat parking area, crossed the bridge at the raging Mahwah River, and took the partially flooded-out Old Mill Trail for its length until the Kakiat Trail. I had to hike on rocks and detours to avoid the flooded and washed out portions. Took the Kakiat Trail slightly up the mountain, and veered off to the Kakiat waterfalls, which were falling strong. From there I bushwacked up along the side of the mountain to the lower Kakiat viewpoint, and then hiked down the Mountain Trail back to the parking area.

These pictures were taken with my cell phone camera since I didn't have my regular camera with me.

Map of the route.

Entrance and bridge with overflowing Mahwah River.

The flooded picnic area.
Not a good day to have a picnic.

Still a little bit of snow left on the Blue Mill Trail.

Walking along the Old Mill Trail.
I have never seen the river overflow this much.
Notice how the force of the water pushed aside the small bridges.

The Kakiat waterfall.

The uppermost Kakiat waterfall.

View from the lower Kakiat viewpoint off the Mountain Trail

Manhattan Skyline visible in the distance from the lower Kakiat viewpoint.

Kakiat Waterfalls

Kakiat County Park
Rockland County,
New York

Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze
Gas Line Trail: Unmarked
Unmarked Kakiat Trails

Total Time: 1:00 hr
Estimated Distance: 1.9 Miles


I had not been able to hike the previous day on Sunday because of a large rainstorm. It was a heavy cold rain, which is one of the few conditions that I don't go hiking in. So I made up for this by doing a short hike to the waterfalls at Kakiat, knowing all that rain was going to provide enough water to make the waterfalls beautiful.

The Kakiat waterfalls are seasonal. In the dry summer months they are nothing more then a trickle; the best time to visit them is after a good rainfall. I started the hike at the Kakiat parking circle, crossed the bridge and took the Old Mill Trail past the old mill to the end. Then took the Kakiat Trail west towards the mountain, and after crossing the gas line climbed just a little bit and veered off to the left to the stream, where I took it along up through the series of cascading waterfalls. There are several small waterfalls here, and each make good photo oppurtunities. After getting to the top of the highest falls, bushwacked back to the Kakiat Trail, took it down to the Gas Line, then took the Gas Line Trail south. From there headed off the spur near the mountain trail at the southern end of the Kakiat park border, and then took another path from there back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

The Old Mill

The Lowest Waterfall

The second waterfall

The second waterfall cascade

The third waterfall

The top (and largest) waterfall

Another view of the top waterfall

The two splits of the top waterfall

New Appalachian Trail/Bear Mountain

Bear Mountain State Park

Rockland and Orange Counties,

New York

Trails:

Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail: Yellow blaze

Appalachian Trail: Red blaze

Major Welch Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hr

Estimated Distance: 3.75 Miles

The was the first hike in the real winter. The high for the day was in the low 30's, and it was very windy. I needed my winter coat, hat, and gloves for this hike, as this was the first hike to break in the winter season.

I had heard that the Appalachian Trail had been entirely re-routed with a brand new trail to the top, and I have been anxious for a while to try it. This was finally my oppurtunity. I parked near the Ice Skating Rink, and headed up towards to old Appalachian Route, and suprising it wasn't there. The S-BM Trail was instead extended all the way to the bottom of Bear Mountain, and the Appalachian Trail was pushed further north. It took a while for me to figure this out while I was heading the wrong way looking for the trail.

I finally found the new trail, which starts right near the southern end of Hessian Lake. This new trail is impressive and quite an architectural feat, with the entire path being steps and gravel to the top (to prevent erosion). The Trail climbs a steep part of the mountain in meandering stairs, and then juts to the south while passing a nice seasonal waterfall, and eventally meets up with the original trail right near the end of dead-end circle at Perkins Drive. The trail officially continues along its original route up Perkins, but I saw they were rerouting it back to its original trail location. I decided to take this original and future portion of the trail to the top. The top was cold and very windy, and I had to quickly snap a few pictures before running back to the trail out of the exposure due to the fierce chilled winds. Headed down the mountain by way of the Major Welch Trail, and took this trail all the way back to my car.

Map of the route
Harriman-Bear Mountain State Park Map

The beginning of the New Appalachian Trail

at the foot of Bear Mountain near Hessian Lake

The ascent is all newly placed steps.

Steps and new bridge on the ascent

The first view, less than halfway to the summit.

Facing southeast towards Iona Island in the Hudson.

Small Waterfall on the AT

The view at the summit. Facing southwest.

Descending down the Major Welch Trail.

Heading north-northeast.

The Major Welch viewpoint.

Facing east towards the Bear Mountain Bridge

and Anthony's Nose on other side of the Hudson

Me at the Major Welch viewpoint.

The information sign at the beginning of the AT

explaining the new Trail system at Bear Mountain