Fingerboard Mountain & the Bottle Cap Trail

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Trails:
Hurst Trail: Blue blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 2:15 hr
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for beautiful flora
Points Of Interest: Beautiful and lush trees and plants

Hiking Partners:
Gary Greenstein

Google Maps of Parking:

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This was a hike in late autumn, and the first hike with all the trees already having shed their leaves. However, this hike goes through a beautiful area of Harriman State Park rich in different plant types such as evergreen Mountain Laurels, colorful lichen, and green pine and hemlock forests. So despite the leaves gone in most of the trees, this hike was still very colorful. We parked off Seven Lakes Drive off the entrance to Camp Thendara, but we got a notice on the windshield stating that it's illegal to park here. Glad there was no ticket and the car wasn't towed.

We took the short Hurst trail up to the Fingerboard Mountain shelter where it hits the combined Appalachian and Ramapo-Dunderberg Trails. Continued on the Ramapo-Dunderberg after the split, taking it all the way down to the Bottle Cap Trail. The Bottle Cap Trail is an unofficial trail with it's markings using bottlecaps, hence it's name. This trail is not recommended for inexperienced hikers due to its overgrown state and easyness in missing the markers. I was on this trail about three years ago and found it much easier to follow in the past then it was now. All the downed trees and flooding from the recent severe storms have taken a big toll on this unmaintained trail.

We took the Bottle Cap all the way to the end where it nears 7 Lakes Drive and then went back to our car.

Map of the Route

Ascending the Hurst Trail, Looking Towards the Shelter

Gary Reading the Trail Intersection Sign

On Top of Fingerboard Mountain. Facing West.

Gary Atop Fingerboard. Facing East Towards Lake Tiorati.

Lake Tiorati From Fingerboard Mnt.

Amazing Colors on the Mountaintop

More Amazing Colors. The Bright Red Plants are Blueberries.
Blueberries are late foliage plants.

Me Atop Fingerboard with the Red Blueberries

Fingerboard Viewpoint, facing southeast.
Jackie Jones Tower is in the Distance.

Bottle Cap Trail In the Valley.
Note the Marker on the Tree.

Montague Quartz Mine

Montague,
Sussex Co.,
New Jersey

Estimated Distance: 1.6 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Easy until mine which requires difficult, steep, but shot hike up
Level of Recommendation: Recommended for good views and if you are interested in mining
Points Of Interest: Beautiful views of High Point and Mine

Google Maps of Parking:

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One of my other interests is exploratory mining, in which I explore old mining locations. This was more like mineral collecting but involved a beautiful area in which I was able to also hike. I had joined the North Jersey Mineral Society for this event, and we went as a group. Afterwards I went to explore the surrounding mountain and hiked along the ridge for a short while and got some excellent photos.

This hike is literally only a few short feet from the NY/NJ state border near Port Jervis in Montague. Its right off I-84 and is easily found. We parked at the shopping center parking area (Shoprite), crossed the street, went along the side to cross the bridge by the brook, and then headed down the path along a crystal-clear brook. According to our guide, this path was the original Route 23 before it was rerouted. There is an old abandoned small bridge crossing the brook which at one time carried the narrow old Route 23 across. As the brook opened up to a swamp on our right, we saw the rock outcrop along the side of the mountain, where the Quartz crystals exist.

We climbed up the rocky hill, and did some collecting from the upper part. Once I collected several nice transparent colorless Quartz crystals, I continued up the extremely steep slope to the top of the narrow ridge, and went along the side of the ridge to look for photo spots. I then snaked down, and went back to the quarry to the group, and then we all headed back with our finds.

Map of the Route
Some of the route is repeated.

Beautiful Fall Colors From the top of the Quarry.
Overlooking High Point State Park Tower.
Facing east.

View from the Mountain Top.
Looking Straight at the High Point Tower.
High Point is the highest point in New Jersey.
Facing east.

Another view from the ridge top.
Facing northeast.

The tranquil stream just before it opens into the swamp.

Club Members at the Montague Quartz Quarry.

Rare Autumn Snow Hike

Pine Meadow and HTS Trails,
Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Trails:
Pine Meadow Trail: Red blaze
Stony Brook Trail: Yellow blaze
Hillburn-Torne-Sebago Trail: Orange blaze

Total Time: 2:20 hr
Estimated Distance: 3.4 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Very Difficult due to climbing in snowy conditions
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Beauriful river path, amazing views

Hiking Partners:
S&M Rosenberg

Google Maps of Parking:

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This hike was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It combined fall foliage togethor with a over a foot of snow. We had gotten a freak snowstorm in the end of October, the biggest ever by far on record (snow does not happen at all this time of the year!), and the trees still all had their leaves on them. Aside from the trees fallen and losing power for almost a week, the setting of the white snow with the fall foliage was absolutely incredible.

This was the backdrop of our hike. We parked at the Reeve's Meadow trailhead off 7 Lakes Drive near Sloatsburg. We actually got a spot in a parking lot despite this being a Sunday. I guess the snow scared people off. This parking lot is always full with cars parked lining all the way up and down 7 Lakes Drive on a typical Sunday. The weather was also extremely cold for October and we had to bundle well. I was not used to this as I still hadn't put on any coat yet for the season.

We went along the Pine Meadow Trail, to the Stony Brook Trail, and then where it crosses the Pine Meadow Brook we took the unmarked spur trail back to the Pine Meadow Trail. From there we continued till the HTS Trail, which we turned right on to climb up the mountain. The view here is really good, and the panorama of snow and bright fall colors for miles and miles was amazing! And on top of the mountain there was a remarkable two feet of snow! We turned around from there and went back down the HTS back to the Pine Meadow Trail all the way back to our car. This hike was definitley my most memorable hike this past year.

Hiking Map of the Route

Seven Lakes Drive Approaching Reeves Meadow Trailhead

Me and the Rosenberg brothers at the Trailhead

Me navigating through downed trees

The colorful trees and the snow. On the Pine Meadow Trail.

A bright blue sky adds to the color.

At the Gas Line crossing on the Stony Brook Trail

More amazing colors, on the Stony Brook Trail.

Ascending near the Pine Meadow Trail opposite Cascase of Slid.

Ascending near the mountain on the HTS Trail.
 Note the wet snow covering everything.

View from the summit viewpoint. Facing northwest.

Another view from the summit. Facing southwest.

Shimmy at the summit. Facing north.

Me at the summit.

Relaxing in 2 feet of snow.

Summit view - facing northwest.

Trees along the Pine Meadow Trail

At the descent at the Gas pipeline on the Pine Meadow Trail

Silvermine Lake & Black Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Trails:
Menomine Trail: Yellow blaze
Appalachian Trail (AT): White blaze
Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail (R-D): Red blaze

Total Time: 3:00 hr
Estimated Distance: 4.5 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Slightly difficult
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Points Of Interest: Scenic Lake, Good climb, and amazing views

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy Rosenberg


Google Maps of Parking:

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This hike was at the peak of the fall foliage, with the striking colors in full force. I wanted to get a hike with a beatiful lake and solid viepoint, so this was the perfect combination. We parked at the Silvermine Lake parking area off Seven Lakes Drive, and took the path along the western part of the lake towards the dam. At the dam bushwacked down slightly, and then crossed the outlet stream on the rocks. Over the other side there is an old road that is an unmarked trail that first goes along the northern shore of Silvermine Lake, and then slowly climbs the mountain. Not too far later it hits the combined AT and R-D Trails.

At that intersection we took the combined AT and R-D Trails up black mountain, where there is a short but solid climb to a fantastic viewpoint where you can get a very pretty view of the lake. Continued along towards the summit of Black Mountain, which provides one of the best views in the entire Harriman Park. We also explored the Spanish Mine on the top of Black Mountain. The Spanish Mine is mostly filled in and only a short pit, and not all that interesting.

From here we turned around back and continued along the AT all the way to the Menomine Trail. Stopped at the shelter for a few minutes which was extremely busy, and then took the Menomine Trail back to the parking area.

Map of the Route

Foliage at the Beginning of Hike

Silvermine Lake. Western shore.

Silvermine Lake, near Dam

Silvermine Lake, near Dam

Group of Japanese crossing the brook near the lake outlet

Black Mountain. First viewpoint overlooking the lake.

Same view, zoomed in.

Same viewpoint, different angle of Lake

Near the summit of Black Mountain.
Facing south towards Hi-Tor.

View from Black Mnt Summit.
Facing south with Manhattan Skyline in view straight ahead.

Summit view. Facing south.

The inconspicuous Spanish Mine.

The busy shelter at the AT and Menomine Intersections.

Another Lake Shot on the return.
From the southern shore of the lake along the Menomine Trail.