Kakiat Mountain

Kakiat Mountain,
Kakiat County Park
Rockland County,
New York

Trails:
Mountain Trail: Orange Blaze
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze

Total Time: 1.0 Hours
Total Distance: 2.4 Miles


I had to do a really quick hike early in the morning since my brother-in-law was getting married later in the day, and I was warned that I had to be on time. So I had to do a short, quick hike close to home. I go to Kakiat on a regular basis, usually once a week, so I usually don't take any pictures. However, this time was different since I just got my new digital SLR Camera (Nikon D5000). So I had to take the camera on its inagural hike and post the pictures on the blog.

It was an extremely hot and muggy day, so it was good I started early in the morning. Parked at the Kakiat parking area, crossed the new bridge accross the Mahwah River, and took the mountain trail up to the summit. Continued on the newly extended mountain trail to the end where it hits the Kakiat Trail, and took this all the way down to the end.

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Map of the Route

The new bridge at the beginning of the hike

crossing the Mahwah River.

This bridge was built in Summer 2009.

Trout Fisherman in the Mahwah River.

Taken from the above bridge.

The Mountain Trail at the foot of the mountain,

where it is very wide.

View near the top. Looking southeast.

In the distant center is the RCC fieldhouse.

At the top of the escarpment. Facing south.

Note what a hazy day it was.

From the top looking north-northeast

toward the edge of Cobus Mountain.

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Pine Meadow Brook

Harriman State Park,
Rockland County,
New York
Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red Blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Orange Blaze
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze
Hillburn Torne Sebago (HTS) Trail: Orange Blaze

Total Time: 1.0 Hours
Total Distance: 2.5 Miles


It had been really hot and muggy, and the weather had just turned beautiful, so I took some time off of work to take this short and easy hike. I started at the Reeves Meadow Visitor Center off 7 Lakes Drive near Sloatsburg. Hiked parallel to the stream on the Pine Meadow Trail, to the Stony Brook Trail, and then along the Kakiat Trail past the Cascade of Slid, which is a small waterfall along the trail. When I hit the HTS Trail, took it south for a brief moment across the brook, and then hit the Pine Meadow Trail, which I took back to the trailhead. As this hike was spontaneous, I did not bring my camera with me. Since there aren't any lookouts, just a beautiful walk, I didn't bother taking pictures with my low-quality cell phone camera. Hence, the lack of pictures on this posting.

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Map of the Route

Dunderberg Mountain

Southern Portion
Bear Mountain State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Total Time: 2:30 hours
Total Distance: 4.5 miles

Hiking Partners:
Yehuda Koblick
Shimmy Rosenberg

Trails:
Timp Torne Trail (T-T): Blue Blaze
Ramapo Dunderberg (R-D): Red Blaze
1777 Trail: Red Blaze


It had been about 3 years since I was last at Dunderberg, so this trip was long overdue. Dunderberg Mountain jumps out of the Hudson River with its very steep incline. The mountain is full of remnants of an abandoned railway that was partially constructed in the 1890's for a hotel on the top of the mountain.

This was a very hot and muggy day, which restricted the views and made the extensive uphill very uncomfortable. We parked on Route 9W at the trailhead parking across from the Anchor Monument along the Hudson River. We started at the trailhead of the T-T and R-D where they confluence for a short time, and then veered off on the T-T Trail, along the old abandoned railway bed and the tunnels. Continued up the mountain to the viewpoint where Indian Point is clearly visible across the river, and went further until the intersection with the 1777 Trail, which we took south and then east down the mountain.

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Map of the Route

One of the spiral railway tunnels

Me and Shimmy in one of the tunnels

View from inside the tunnel looking out.

At the viewpoint after the bend.

Looking South accross the Hudson River

and Verplanck in Westchester.

Indian Point Nuclear Reactor across the Hudson River.

The heavy haze makes it hard to see.

Me and Yehuda at the lookout, overlooking the Hudson

Shimmy swinging off a Jungle Vine

Shimmy and Yehuda reading the 1777 trail plaque

Me at the Anchor Monument, with Indian Point behind me.

Pine Meadow Lake

Sherwood Path Approach
Harriman State Park/
Kakiat Park
Rockland County,
New York

Total Time: 2:30 hours
Total Distance: 5.5 miles

Hiking Partner:
Yehuda Koblick

Trails:
Sherwood Path: Unblazed
Pine Meadow Trail: Red Blaze
Conklins Crossing Trail: White Blaze
Suffern-Bear Mountain (SBM) Trail: Yellow Blaze
Kakiat Trail: White Blaze

Yehuda and I had missed our regular Sunday hike due to inclement weather (the national weather service posted a severe thunderstorm watch as well as a tornado watch, which was enough to scare us off from going hiking). So we needed to make up the date and take off a little bit of time during the week. We took two cars: one we left at the Kakiat parking lot, and then we shuttled down Route 202 to Wilder Road and parked there at the corner where there is a little pull-off. Walked along south on Route 202 for a little bit, then cut across and bushwacked down to the Mahwah River, and crossed it to meet up with the Sherwood Path. Continued up the Sherwood Path, took the shortcut switchback which avoids the abandoned and trashed cars along the trail, and continued up the back of Horse Chock Mountain. At this point we were worthy of seeing a large black bear in the distance, and unfortunately by the time we got the camera out our furry friend was gone. Continued up the Sherwood Path to the intersection of the SBM Trail, where we took a short picture break at the shelter.

Continued along the Sherwood Path up till the Pine Meadow Trail, and went west toward Pine Meadow Lake. We met this beautiful lake at its eastern portion, and then took the Conklins Crossing Trail east back to the SBM Trail. From there took the SBM south, up Cobus Mountain, and then down to the Kakiat Trail, which we took down the mountain through Kakiat Park and back to our car.

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Map of the route

Me atop the Shelter roof, at the SBM

On the shelter roof

On the phone at the lakeshore

 

Pine Meadow Lake. What a great day!

View from Cobus Mountain Summit

with Manhattan Skyline in distance.

Yehuda on top of Cobus

Russian Bear

Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Total Time: 2:45 hours
Total Distance: 5 miles

Hiking Partner:
Yehuda Koblick

Trails:
Reeves Brook: White Blaze
Racoon Brook Hills (RBH): Black Blaze
Hillburn Torne Sebago (HTS): Orange Blaze
Seven Hills Trail: Blue Blaze

This was another beautiful late spring day with perfect weather. We started at the Reeves Brook
Visitors Center off 7 Lakes Drive near Sloatsburg. Took the Reeves Brook Trail all the way from beginning to end up the mountain along the Reeve's Brook, which the trail is named after. From there took the RBH east where it makes a very steep climb up the Pulpit, and where there is a good view. From the Pulpit continued along till the HTS Trail, where we went south towards the Russian Bear.

The Russian Bear is a sold cliff wall along the ridge, and the trail skirts around descending on the side of the cliff face. Continued along the HTS past where it meets the Seven Hills Trail, and then veered off continuing with the Seven Hills. From there took a connector path back to the Reeves Brook and back to the trailhead.

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Map of the route

Me ascending the cliff by the Pulpit

Yehuda at the Pulpit

Pulpit viewpoint - facing southwest.

Beautiful flowering Mountain Laurels on the RBH

Manhattan skyline in the distance (zoomed)

From the viewpoint above the Russian Bear.

Facing south-southeast.

View at Russian Bear looking towards the

Torne Valley complex. Facing south.

The Russian Bear cliff face from below

on the HTS Trail.

Rattlesnake Eating Squirrel

Kakiat County Park
Rockland County
New York

I was taking a walk in the woods near the Old Mill Trail (blue) in Kakiat Park, past the Old Mill,
and I saw an amazing sight. A Timber Rattlesnake was eating an entire full-sized squirrel! It was
just starting when I saw it, and I didn't have my camera with me at the time so tried snapping shots
with my phone camera. The photos aren't that great, but you can still get the idea. The squirrel
wasn't all that much bigger then the snake that was devouring it, which was amazing.

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By the time I got my phone camera,

the squirrel was already halfway in.

A closer shot, with more of the squirrel devoured.

He's almost done. Just the tail is sticking out.

West Mountain (Southern Portion)

Harriman State Park
Rockland County,
New York

Total Time: 2:45 hours
Total Distance: 5 miles

Hiking Partner:
Shimmy Rosenberg

Trails:
Beechy Bottom Road
Appalachian Trail (AT): White Trail
Timp-Torne Trail (TT): Blue Trail
Ramapo Dunderberg Trail (R-D): Red Blaze

This is one of the best hikes in the area! West Mountain has some of the best views in the region, with continuous vistas and summits. This made up for the previous week's lousy hike. The weather was also perfect, although a tad on the hot side. We started at Anthony Wayne area. We wanted to park at the southern extension of Anthony Wayne, but this area has been closed off to cars for a while now. I wonder if they will ever re-open it. We went along the service roads in the woods, and then cut accross to Beechy Bottom Road, and then headed along Beechy Bottom Road until the AT. From the AT headed east up to West Mountain. This part is a solid climb. The intersection of the AT with the TT Trail has a fantastic lookout near the summit which affords an outstanding view.

From the lookout, headed east along the TT, and ascended the true summit of West Mountain, which is a few hundred feet due east from the lookout. Continued along past the Shelter, where we met a bunch of overnighters packing their tents, and where there is an excellent view of the Timp which looms ahead. Continued down the mountain to the Timp Pass, and then took the Timp Pass south for just a little bit to the intersection of the R-D. Took the R-D back west, climbing along the southern edge of West Mountain, with continuous views along the climb. Once at the top took the R-D back down past the Cat's Elbow cliff, and then continued down the mountain until the Bike Path by Anthony Wayne. From there went back to the car.

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Map of the route

From the West Mountain lookout.

Looking southwest to Black Mountain.

Me and Shimmy at the lookout

by the A-T/T-T intersection

Same view but our better side.

From the true summit of West Mountain.

Looking south at the Southern Portion

of West Mountain.

People camping at the shelter.

Hudson River is in background.

From T-T Trail facing southeast.

View of Manhattan Skyline in distance.

Descending the T-T Trail towards Timp Pass.

Facing south.

The Timp!

Facing east with Hudson and Hi-Tor in background.

Note the sheer cliff wall.

R-D Trail neat South summit of West Mountain.

Facing south.

West Mountain south Summit.

Near SBM intersection

with Hudson River/Haverstraw Bay

in background.

Shimmy descending Cat's Elbow.

Long Path

Near Mountainview Park
Nyack,
Rockland County,
New York

Total Time: 1:10 hours
Total Distance: 2.5 Miles

Trails:
Red Trail
Long Path: Blue Blaze
Appalachian Trail (AT): White Blaze
Major Welch Trail: Red Blaze

I usually state how good the hike was. Well, today I will complain how BAD this hike was. The weather was cloudy and windy, there were NO views, and there were signs of human settlement throughout this hike. Just awful! In fact, I didnt even take any pictures! I parked on Sugar Hill Rd, right off of Mountainview Ave, and started looking for the Long Path. There was this other red-blazed trail there in place of where the Long Path was, and this was just some sort of detour back to the Long Path. Took the Long Path first east and then north, brushing along the side of the Oak Hill Cemetary, and then back into the wood, and then behind the apartment complexes. I was going to take this all the way to Christian Herald Road and then turn around, but I really didnt want to take that route again. I also didn't want to have to loop again on the road, so using my GPS with satellite view I bushwacked through the woods and ended up by a Water Tower. There is also some sort of newly built temple here. It has a Persian style and some hidden minarets, and its kind of freaky because it has no name or anything on the building. Perhaps its a secret operation for Ahmadinejad or Ghadaffi. Anyways, I continued along south on Mountainview Road back to my car.

Map of the route.

Bear Mountain, Southern Approach

Bear Mountain State Park
Orange County,
New York

Total Time: 1:30 hours
Total Distance: 3.3 Miles

Trails:
1777 W: Red Blaze
Appalachian Trail (AT): White Blaze
Major Welch Trail: Red Blaze


This was a HOT day - the hottest day of the year so far. It was over 90 and humid, which is unseasonal for the beginning of May. And this was a trail with a big climb and not too much tree cover. I started at the parking area at the 1777 W Trail on 7 Lakes Drive, and took the 1777 W Trail east for about 5 minutes until it connected with the AT. Took the AT up the mountain. A significant part of this trail shares a route with Perkins Memorial Drive, which receives car traffic, making it annoying. I was looking for ways to bushwack up the steep incline to avoid the road part, but was too hot so I just took the regular route along the road. I was delighted to see an old map after the hike which shows the original location of the Major Welch Trail avoiding the road and cutting straight up a steep incline - so my next trip there will be to find this old trail and use this route instead.

From the road hit the intersection with the Major Welch, and continued along this trail until this summit. This part of the Major Welch has excellent views and interesting rock formations, and is definitely more recommended over the parallel portion of the AT which is right next to it. From the summit stretched a little bit, shmoozed a bit with some people there, and then headed back down by way of the AT. Once I hit 7 Lakes Drive I went along the road back to the parking area.

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Map of the route

View while ascending of Popolopen Torne.

Facing north.

Looking southwest, towards the Palisades Pkwy

and 7 Lakes Drive exit, and Queensboro Lake.

View from Major Welch Trail near top.

Looking west, towards Bradley Mountain.
(Those two humps are Bradley Mnt)

View from Major Welch Trail near top.

Looking south towards the summit of West Mountain

From the Major Welch Trail.

Solid Rock scramble on the Major Welch

right before lookout approach.

Me at the top lookout.

From where the Major Welch hits the top.

West Mountain is the next mountain over.

Me again at the top, facing west.