Tom Jones-Victory Trail Hike

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Victory Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:30
Estimated Distance: 3.2 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate, but difficult in snow conditions
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Excellent views on Tom Jones Mountain, evergreen forest
Pros: Good climb and excellent views
Cons: Parking can fill up on weekends

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

It had been extremely cold over the weekend, with lows on Saturday just shy of 2 degrees! As you can see from the first picture below, the temperate right before we headed out was 10 degrees. However, the forecast called for a big warm up on Sunday, and although we started out all bundled up, by the time the hike was over, it was already above freezing. In fact, it had rained heavily all afternoon evening as the temperature further warmed up. At the time of the hike, there was still a fresh layer of about six inches of snow from the storm on Thursday and Friday.

We had driven around looking to see if the lakes were frozen, and we met up with a ranger who said that none are yet posted as safe. The problem with this winter so far is that although it has gotten very cold, the weather is very inconsistent and then after excruciating cold it warms up to very high temperatures. This prevents the lakes from freezing over and allowing hiking on them.

We parked on Lake Kanawauke Road (County Route 106) at the trailhead and climbed up the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail to the top of Tom Jones Mountain. This mountain is a good but short climb offering outstanding views at its summit. We veered off to the shelter on the southern flank of the mountain, and then continued down the mountain on the trail. We then took the Victory Trail south and west, and looped back at the unmarked trail after the trail bend. We then took this trail back to the Victory Trail, all the way to the end of the trail by the road. We then walked along the side of the road adjacent to the swamp back to our car.

Map of the Route.
Harriman-Bear Mountain Trails Southern Map

My Outdoor Thermometer Reading Shows 10.5 Degrees Farenheit.
This was the temperature when we started the hike. Brrr.

Lake Kanawauke Road Right Near the Trailhead.

Me at the Foot of Tom Jones Mountain

Shimmy Ascending Tom Jones Mountain
on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail

Ascending Tom Jones Mountain, Facing Black Rock Mountain
with the Deep Notch in Between

Along the Summit of Tom Jones Mountain.
 I like the Perspective of the Trees and the Colors in this Photo.

View Atop Tom Jones Mountain.
Facing East Towards Jackie Jones Tower

Shimmie Hiking Atop the Tom Jones  Ridge.
Notice Lake Kanawauke in the Background.

Me Atop Tom Jones Mnt.

Tom Jones Summit. Facing Southeast.

At the Summit of Tom Jones Mnt. Facing  Southeast.

Atop Tom Jones Summit - Facing West.

Shimmy on  Top of the World

Sliding Down the Hill Towards the Tom Jones Shelter

Shimmy Overlooking the Tom Jones Shelter and View.

View from Tom Jones Shelter. Facing South.

View from Tom Jones Shelter. Same View as Above, Zoomed In.

Me in the "Ice  Shelter" at the Foot of Tom Jones Mountain.

Beautiful Verdant Pine Forest Near the Victory Trail
By the Short Connector Path.

Black Mountain - Letterrock Mountain Loop

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Silvermine Ski Road: Unblazed
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Menomine Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 2:30
Estimated Distance: 4.6 miles
Level of Difficulty: Difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Silvermine Lake, Black Mountain Views
Pros: Good climb and excellent views atop ridge
Cons: None

Google Map of Parking:

View 2014 Hiking Locations in a larger map

I took advantage of my day off on New Years and went hiking. I went driving up Seven Lakes Drive to see if any of the lakes were frozen over and safe to walk on, but they were all posted as unsafe despite being frozen. Despite the cold weather, it had not been consistent, with several balmy days messing up the lake freeze.

I ended up by Silvermine Lake, and decided to hike from there to Black Mountain. Black Mountain is one of my favorite hikes in Harriman, due to its expansive views and beautiful, remote scenery. I headed on the path along the west part of the lake towards the dam, and crossed the icy brook which was quite full due to all the rains and melting snow. There is a rickety homemade bridge that some people built further down the brook to cross it.

I then took the Silvermine Ski Road up towards the intersection of the Appalachian / Ramapo-Dunderberg Trails, and took the dual trails up the short but good climb to the first viewpoint on Black Mountain. This view has an excellent perspective of the lake and parking area about a mile and half in the distance. I then continued along the trails to the summit of Black Mountain, which offers an amazing, uninterrupted south-facing view. I then turned back, went down the mountain the way I came, but then continued along the dual trails up Letterrock Mountain, which is the next mountain over. I took it down to the shelter at the intersection of the Menomine Trail, and then took the Menomine Trail all the way down back to the parking area, arriving right around sunset.

Map of the Route

Sterlingmine Ski Area, with a Dusting of Snow
from a Small Squall a Day Earlier.
All the Big Snow had Melted from the Rain on Sunday

Sterlingmine Lake at the Beginning of the Hike. Looking Northeast.

Frozen  Sterlingmine Lake With a Strange Line Pattern
That Went All the Way From One  Side of the Lake to the Other

Another View of the Frozen Lake

Ruin Behind the Dam of the Lake

Makeshift Bridge Crossing At the Outlet of the Lake
on the Queensboro Brook

An Interesting View of the Lake with the Line Streak Running Through It

And One More View of the Lake

View from the Lower Overlook on Black Mountain
Facing  Southwest Towards Sterlingmine Lake

View From the Upper View of Black Mountain
Facing South Towards Owl Lake

View From Black Mountain Summit Towards the Hudson River.
Facing  Southeast.

Another Southeast Facing View with Haverstraw in the Distance

Another View South Towards Owl Lake

At the Black Mountain Summit

Black Rock View Facing Southwest Towards Letterrock Mountain,
Where I Later Climbed After Descending

Silvermine Lake from the Menomine Trail as Dusk Approaches.

Kakiat Before Rain

Kakiat Before Rain
Kakiat County Park
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 0:55
Estimated Distance: 1.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for short and sweet hike
Points Of Interest: Kakiat Mountain View
Pros: Bottom part of park very busy

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

Kakiat is one of my favorite short hikes. Its close to home and is a short and sweet climb with an excellent view. The weather forecast had called for heavy rain most of the day. When I woke up in the morning, it had not started raining yet. I checked the radar and noticed I have a about an hour or two until the rain starts, so I opted for this quick and close-by hike and beat out the rain. One of the few weather conditions that I will not go hiking in is a steady cold rain. I was glad to have gotten in this hike before the storm. I parked in the main Kakiat parking area, and took the orange-blazed Mountain Trail up Kakiat Mountain to the upper viewpoint. I then took returned the same route down.

Map of the Route

View from Lookout Facing Northeast.
Cobus Mountain on the Left and South Mountain in the Distance

View from the Lookout Facing Southeast

View Facing East/Southeast with RCC
(Rockland Community College) in View
and the Palisades in the  Distance

Rock at the Lookout

Goshen Mountain Loop

Harriman State Park
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:10
Estimated Distance: 4.5 miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Not Recommended
Points Of Interest: Lake Tiorati, Appalachian Trail
Pros: Trails are quiet
Cons: No dramatic views

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Google Map of Parking:

View 2013 Hiking Locations in a larger map

A few weeks back on that abnormally frigid day in November with Shimmy we had meant to take this route as a continuation, but the cold weather was getting to us so we had to cut that hike short. This hike was the continuation and a little bit extra. The weather had been very strange. It had peaked on the hike to about 65 degrees, which allowed me to hike short-sleeve T-shirt. I don't ever previously recall hiking in short sleeves in late November. All the snow from the previous weeks snowstorms had virtually melted, which just few patches remaining.

We parked at the Tiorati Circle parking area, and walked along Lake Tiorati Road, which is closed in the winter. It was fascinating to view Lake Tiorati covered with ice but melting with  steam clouds forming from the melt and then blowing over to the side of the lake. We veered off the road at the bend, taking the unmarked former route of the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail towards the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail. We then headed north on the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail up Goshen Mountain, and then back down to the six-way intersection of the Ramapo-Dunderberg, Appalachian, and unmarked Bockey Swamp Trail. We took the Appalachian Trail west and crossed over Seven Lakes Drive, crossing the brook and climbing up Fingerboard Mountain. When we reached the Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail, instead of climing up the hill, we veered directly south along the side of the ridge towards the Tiorati Traffic Circle and back to our car.

Map of the Route

Lake Tiorati Road, Closed for the Season

Steam Cloud Forming on the Shore of Lake Tiorati from Melting Ice

Lake Tiorati from the Northern Bank

Clouds Forming Over Lake Tiorati frrom Melting Ice,
These Fog Clouds Blew into us Several Hundred Feet Away from the Lake

Very Large Bees or Hornets Nest that has been Discontinued

Ramapo-Dunderberg Along the Goshen Mountain Ridge

Me at the Top of Goshen Mountain

Interesting Colors at the Top of Goshen Mountain

Very Unique Photo Perspective Atop Goshen Mountain.
It's Hard to See Which are the Clouds and which are the Mountains

Another View from the Top of Goshen Mountain

Along the Appalachian Trail

Some Remaining Snow in the Evergreen Mountain
Laurels on the Appalachian Trail