Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: January 2019

Sunday, January 27, 2019

Allaire State Park Red Trail Loop

Allaire State Park,
Howell
Monmouth County
New Jersey

Hiking Trails:
Red Trail - Red Blaze

Total Time: 1:00 hour
Estimated Distance: 2.8 Miles

Pros: Tranquil area in winter
Cons: All flat and lacks views

I had spent the weekend in Central New Jersey, and scouted the region for a short hike on Sunday morning. This region is within the coastal plain and is entirely flat, so the hiking oppurtunities are limited. Allaire State Park is one of the larger parks of the area and does have several hiking trails.

I parked in the main parking area near Allaire Village. I walked through the village, was had interesting old buildings, but was quiet like a ghost town in the winter. I then crossed a bridge across the brook at the end of the village, and headed back to the parking area, where I then took the Red Trail. I followed this trail the nature center, which was closed in the winter, and then continued along the trail loop until the end of the trail where it ends in a lollipop loop. I then continued back along the trail back to my car.

Map of the Route

Plaque at the Trailhead

Signs at the Start of the Trail

Old Housing Complex at the Parking Area

Interpretive Sign at Allaire Village

Mill Pond at Allaire Village

Another View of Mill Pond

Bakery Building in Allaire Village

Some More Old Restore Buildings in Allaire Village

Bridge at Allaire Village Crossing the Brook

Old Building Alongside the Brook

Frozen Pond Along the Red Trail

Another View of the Pond

Red Trail Loop Terminus Marker

Another Frozen Pond along the Trail

Evergreen Holly Trees Along the Trail

Sunday, January 20, 2019

Bear Mountain Ice Storm

Bear Mountain State Park,
Rockland/Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 0:40 hour
Estimated Distance: 1.1 Miles

Pros: Scenic area
Cons: Didn't get to do much of a hike

It had just snowed the night before, and the storm became an ice storm after several inches, causing all the tress to be glazed over with ice. Being that it was windy and the trees were covered in ice, I decide to hike at a more populated place, so I chose Bear Mountain.

I parked at the parking area down by the Hudson River Landing, and walked up to the path where it meets the Appalachian Trail at the entrance to the Bear Mountain Zoo. The scenery with everything covered with ice was breathtaking!

I tool the Appalachian Trail underneath Route 9W/202 to Hessian Lake, and proceeded to walk around the lake. After walking for a few minutes, I was approached by a police officer who told me I had to leave since conditions for hiking were unsafe. At this point I turned around and followed the same route back to my car.

Map of the Route

View from the Parking Area

Sign with Ice Droplets

Bridge over the Hessian Lake Outlet Brook

Hessian Lake Outlet Brook from the Bridge

Ascending on the Path up the Bear Mountain

View of Anthony's Nose and the Hudson River

Bear Mountain from Across Hessian Lake

Frozen Oak Tree at Hessian Lake

Hessian Lake

Hessian Lake and Bear Mountain

Leaves Glazed over in Ice

Another View of the Leaves Covered over in Ice

Ice-Laden Fallen Tree Covering the Path

View of Hudson River facing South Towards Peekskill

Anthony's Nose and the Hudson River

Sunday, January 13, 2019

Sterling Forest Fire Tower

Sterling Forest State Park,
Orange County
New York

Hiking Trails:
Sterling Lake Trail - Blue Blaze
Iron Mine Trail - Yellow Blaze
Bare Rock Trail - Orange Blaze
Sterling Ridge Trail - Blue Blaze
Fire Tower Trail - Red Blaze
Fire Tower Connector Trail - Blue Blaze

Total Time: 2:45 hour
Estimated Distance: 4.5 Miles

Pros: Good climb, nice views at tower
Cons: Hike along road near the beginning

Hiking Partners:
David Kunkel
Shimmy Rosenberg
Morty Rosenberg

I had been at the Sterling Fire Tower almost 10 years prior in the winter, and at them was not able to climb it. When I was at the Jackie Jones Fire Tower in Harriman a few weeks prior, I had noticed that the same volunteer group that refurbished that tower also fixed the Sterling Fire Tower, and that you can now climb to the top. I decided to check it out on this hike.

The weather was unseasonably cold, so we had to bundle up. We parked in the main parking area by the visitor center of Sterling Forest, and took the Sterling Lake Trail for a short distance to the Iron Mine Trail. The Iron Mine Trail is a very short trail that goes through the old workings of the Sterling Mine, an old and important mine for iron ore. The trail goes by a restored furnace, an original structure from the old hamlet of Lakeville, mine cuts and dumps, and some abandoned mine buildings.

We then walked along the road to the Bare Rock Trail, which we took up the mountain. We took this trail up the mountain to the intersection of the Sterling Ridge Trail. We took the Sterling Ridge Trail south until the Fire Tower. The Fire Tower was open and you could go almost to the top, but you couldn't go inside the cabin. However, on Saturday in middle of the day there are rangers there that can escort you up into the cabin. I heard that are considering opening it for Sunday as well.

After descending the Fire Tower, we descended down along the Fire Tower Trail, which is a wide trail, to the Fire Tower Connector Trail, which goes all the way down to mountain and to the south shore of Sterling Lake and the Sterling Lake Trail. We went back on the Sterling Lake Trail, which we took across the outlet of the lake and then back to our car.