Kakiat After Wet Snow

Kakiat County Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Old Mill Trail: Blue blaze
Kakiat Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 22 minutes
Estimated Distance: 0.9 miles

Pros: Heavy wet snow covering everything
Cons: None

The previous night there was a snowstorm that ended with with a heavy wet snow covering everything. I know it wouldn't last and was going to melt, so took a quick walk through Kakiat on my way to work. I parked in the parking area, crossed the bridge over the Mahwah River, and then took the Old Mill Trail loop around back to the Kakiat Trail, and then back to my car.

Map of the Route

Entrance to Kakiat Park Area

Old Mill Trail in Snow

Heavy Snow Covering all Brush on the Kakiat Trail

Storm King Snow Hike

Storm King State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Butter Hill Trail: Orange blaze
Stillman Trail: Yellow blaze

Total Time: 1:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.0 Miles

Pros: Quiet area (except for parking area), nice lake views
Cons: None

This hike was five days after a snowstorm. Much of the area received a mix of rain and snow, but further north at higher elevations featured full snow cover. I figured I would go to the highest area within a short drive to the north. This was a good choice because there was full snow cover of about 6 inches. The hiking conditions were quite difficult with the snow combined with a layer of slippery ice. I had intended to do a longer hike, but due to the difficult conditions turned back earlier.

I parked at the Storm King parking area on Route 9W, and took the Butter Hill Trail up to the summit of Butter Hill. There are great views along much of the part up, with a climax at the summit of Butter Hill with a 360 degree view at the end of the Butter Hill Trail at the Stillman Trail. I took the Stillman Trail further east, and then turned around and took the same route back down.

Map of the Route

View a the Beginning of the Hike, Looking East to Bull Hill

New Plaque at the Storm King Butter Hill Trailhead

Me Ascending the Trail on the Butter Hill Trail

View Ascending Butter Hill.

View from Butter Hill, Looking West to Schunnemunk

Route 9W Snaking Across Storm King

Hudson River from Butter Hill Facing Cold Spring

View from Butter Hill Facing Northwest

View Facing Southwest

Facing South Towards Route 9W

End of the Butter Hill Trail

Me atop Butter Hill at the Summit, Facing South

Me atop Butter Hill at the Summit, Facing West

Rocky Area at Butter Hill

From Butter Hill, Facing West

Butter Hill Summit, Facing Northeast

Butter Hill Summit, Facing North

Me at the Butter Hill Summit, Facing North

Me at the Butter Hill Summit, Facing Northeast

Butter Hill Summit, Facing East Towards the Hudson River

Butter Hill Summit, Facing Southeast

Hasenclever Mountain & Hasenclever Mine Loop

Harriman State Park,
Orange & Rockland Counties,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Red Cross Trail: Red blaze
Arden-Surebridge Trail: Red blaze

Total Time: 1:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 3.7 Miles

Pros: Quiet area (except for parking area), nice lake views
Cons: None

Hiking Partners:
Shimmy Rosenberg
Yehudah Koblick

Our first snowstorm of the season was predicted for Sunday and Monday. I had checked the radar and saw that it wasn't going to snow yet, but figured we should move fast and get back sooner than later to play it safe. At the end of the hike there was freezing rain that picked up and made things quite slick, although we did get back okay. (The following day had 6 inches of snow.)

We parked at the Lake Skanatati parking area, and took the Long Path to the connector stream up to the road at Lake Askoti. We crossed 7 Lakes Drive and took the unmarked wide path on the east side of Lake Askoti, slowly climbing up and going along until the intersection of the Red Cross Trail. We then continued a short distance further towards the Hasenclever Mine, through an evergreen Mountain Laurel forest.

We turned around at the mine, and took the Red Cross Trail to the view, and then down the hill to the northern part of Lake Askoti. We then crossed 7 Lakes Drive and then climbed up to the end of the trail, to the Arden-Surebridge Trail. We tool the Arden-Surebridge Trail down the mountain and back towards the parking area.

Map of the Route

Lake Skanatati

Lake Skanatati, Facing South

Lake Skanatati from the Stream Inlet

Evergreen Mountain Laurel Forest

Hasenclever Mine Main Pit

The other side of the Hasenclever Mine Pit

Rock Dump at the Hasenclever Mine

Yehudah and Shimmy on the Red Cross Trail

Me on the Red Cross Trail at the Hasenclever Mine

View at Hasenclever Mountain, Looking Towards Hogencamp Mountain

Me at the Above View

Pine Trees at the Hasenclever Mountain View

Yehudah Descending Hasenclever Mountain

Lake Askoti Scenic Peninsula

Me at the Lake Askoti Peninsula

Yehudah at Lake Askoti

Ramapo Reservation Thanksgiving Hike

Ramapo Valley County Reservation
Mahwah,
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Vista Loop Trail: Yellow blaze
River Trail: Orange/Green blaze

Total Time: 2:00 Hours
Estimated Distance: 3.5 Miles
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Level of Recommendation: Highly Recommended

Points of Interest: Scenic lakes, waterfall, and good views
Cons: Area is very busy, especially at the beginning of the hike

Hiking Partner:
Aaron Parnes

The past Sunday was raining all day, so was happy to be off on Thanksgiving to do a hike. We parked at the Ramapo Reservation parking lot, and took the the Vista Loop Trail on the side of Scarlet Oak Pond, and then climbed the mountain to Hawk Rock and Cactus View, offering excellent views of Ramapo College and the Manhattan skyline in the distance.

We continued along the Vista Loop to the Ridge Overlook, and then down to the Macmillan Reservoir. We then took the trail alongside the waterfall, which was flowing strong, to the River Trail and then back to our car.

Map of the Route

View of Ramapo College from Hawk Rock

View from Hawk Rock Facing East

Aaron Parnes at Hawk Rock

Me at Hawk Rock

Scarlet Oak Pond in the Distance 

Manhattan Skyline from Cactus Ledge

Scarlet Oak Pond from Cactus Ledge

Me at Cactus Ledge

Me and Aaron Parnes at Cactus Ledge

View along the Vista Loop

Another View of the Manhattan Skyline

Me at the View

Aaron at the View

Oak Pond Reservoir

Waterfall along the Vista Loop

Brand New Bridge right after the Waterfall on the Vista Loop Trail