Campgaw Mountain Snowstorm

Campgaw Mountain Reservation
Bergen Co.,
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Hemlock Trail: Pink blaze
Old Cedar Trail: Red blaze
Rocky Ridge Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 1:15
Estimated Distance: 2.1 miles

Pros: Many trails in the area
Cons: View isn't great, especially in the snow
Hike Type: Loop hike
Level of Difficulty: Moderate (though difficult in snow)

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/qNCxCwJ6Hnv2mzj5A

Hiking Partner:
Shimon Rosenberg 

Shimon Rosenberg and I have been talking for a long time to get out and hike together. It took the worst of weather conditions to get us out together hiking. Not the weather for the fainthearted, this hike took place in the midst of a Winter Storm Warning. The snow was intense with about six inches total. It had also snowed the week before, in the form of a giant, two footer Nor'easter.

We took the opportunity to hike at Campgaw, which features many short trails and loops, affording us an easy exit should the situation deteriorate. I came prepared with snow crampons and winter gear, which protected me during the heavy snowfall and very cold temperatures.

We parked at the large parking lot near Fyke Brook, taking the Hemlock Trail for a very short distance to the Old Cedar Trail for another very short distance, and then to the  Rocky Ridge Trail, which we took up the mountain. We then took the Old Cedar Trail along the ridge to the summit atop the ski hill. We then took the Rocky Ridge Trail down the mountain, parallel to the ski and tubing slope. The ski hill and tubing hill were very busy despite the weather conditions. 

We then walked along the ski area, bushwacking down the hill to the Fyke Pond. We then walked along the north side of the pond, at the dam, up the road and back to the parking lot.

Map of the Route

Shimon at the Beginning of the Hike

Me and Shimon at the Beginning of the Hike

Me and Shimon on the Rocky Ridge Trail

Warning of Bear Activity on the Trailhead

Me on the Snowy Hike

Rocky Ridge Trail in the Snow

Approaching the Summit and the Top of the Ski Area at Campgaw

Me and Shimon on the Top of Campgaw

Ski Lift at Campgaw

Looking Down at the Ski Area at Campgaw

Players Playing Disc Golf on a Snowy Day

Throwing the Tethered Frisbee at Disc Hockey

Monster Ski Equipment at the Base of the Mountain

Frozen Fyke Pond

Me and Shimon at a Frozen Fyke Pond

Snowy Scene at the Fyke Pond Outlet

Fyke Pond from the Dam

Frozen Lake Nawahunta to Stockbridge Mountain

Harriman State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Menomine Trail: Yellow blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze
Tiorati Brook Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:10
Estimated Distance: 3.5 miles

Pros: Frozen lake, very remote trail
Cons: Missing vista view
Hike Type: 2 car point A to point B
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/GEk4bcvDwwPcvUCb6

Hiking Partner:
Yehudah Koblick

This was another cold January day. There was about an inch of snow covering the ground from the small storm earlier in the week. It has been freezing all week, and I was expecting most of the Harriman Lakes to be frozen. I was disapointed that each one that I passed had the red flad indicating the frozen lake was unsafe. Some of the lakes looked entirely frozen so not sure why they weren't flagged green. While driving north on Seven Lakes Drive, I noticed one lake was posted as safe: Nawahunta. This lake is across the road from Silvermine Lake and a bit further to the south. Although this lake is small, it's the first frozen lake in Harriman in over 2 seasons! So we decided to start our hike over here.

We parked in the Silvermine parking area, and took the Menomine Trail west through the picnic area and cemetery, and then crossed Seven Lakes Drive. We went across Lake Nawahunta from its eastern side, west towards the other side. We only encountered a single ice fisherman on the lake complaining why the rest of the lakes weren't open.

After exiting the frozen lake, we bushwacked parallel to the old telephone line (which is no longer here but is still on the map) until reaching the Appalachian Trail, climbing the Stockbridge Mountain ridge. We headed south to the view, which is a bit overgrown, and then descended down the valley and back the northern end of Fingerboard Mountain through a dense evergreen Mountain Laurel forest.

Upon reaching Arden Valley Road, we crossed the road and took Arden Valley Road down to the Lake Tiorati parking area, where was had the other car parked.

Map of the Route

Picnic Area at Silvermine Lake at the Beginning of the Hike

Lewis Cemetery along the Menomine Trail

Menomine Trail Approaching Lake Nawahunta

Frozen Lake Nawahunta at the Shore

Me at Frozen Lake Nawahunta

Me on Lake Nawahunta

Lone Fisherman on the Ice at Lake Nawahunta

Another View of the Fisherman

Me on Lake Nawahunta

Area Cordoned off at the Southern End of the Lake

Looking from One End to the Other End of Lake Nawahunta

Yehudah on Lake Nawahunta

Me on the Snowy Appalachian Trail

West Mountain and Appalachian Trail in the Distance

Another View from Fingerboard Mountain

Appalachian Trail in the Snow on Fingerboard Mountain

Frozen Waterfall on the Appalachian Trail at Stockbridge

View from the Summit Prior to the Descent

Rock Along the View Area at Stockbridge

View Looing South the Fingerboard Mountain

Evergreen Rhododendron Forest on Fingerboard Mountain

Lake Welch Shoreline Winter Hike

Harriman State Park,
Rockland Co.,
New York

Total Time: 0:55 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.0 Miles

Pros: Scenic lake
Cons: Non-cohesive trail and paved paths
Hike Type: Loop hike
Level of Difficulty: Very easy

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/RfwdJwrZwhFd9VMf9

This was a short hike in Harriman at the Lake Welch area. The weather was absolutely frigid, in the lower teens. I hiked in full gear including a face mask and ski goggles. I parked in the Lake Tiorati boat launch area. The lake was mostly frozen, but had several unfrozen patches so was still unsafe to walk on. I walked to the boat launch, and then walked along the path alongside the northern side of the lake. 

I took a short detour at the old cemetery at Lake Welch, and then walked along the path to the Lake Welch Beach. I walked along the beach, where the winds were howling, and then walked towards the parking lot and path through the picnic area, heading back west. I then cut across back at the last parking lot and heading back to my car, where I was able to warm up.

Map of the Route

Frozen Lake and Jackie Jones Tower from the Boat Launch

Looking Across a Frozen Lake Welch to the Islands from the Boat Launch 

Lake Welch Facing Towards the Beach

Foxtails Along the Side of Lake Welch

Debris on a Frozen Lake Welch 

Plaque at the Old School Site of the Extinct Site of Sandyfields

Me at the Boat Launch and Jackie Jones Behind Me

Woods Road Parallel to Lake Welch

Old Sandyfields Cemetery on the North Side of Lake Welch

Tombstones in the Old Sandyfields Cemetery

Zoomed into the Tombstones

Another View of the Cemetery

View of Lake Welch and Jackie Jones from the Hill

Frozen Lake Welch Beach

Jackie Jones Tower Behind a Frozen Lake Welch

Lake Welch Facing Southwest

Lake Welch Beach Shoreline

Water and Ice at Lake Welch Beach