Harriman Hiker: Harriman State Park and Beyond: February 2021

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Anthonys Nose Southern Approach Winter Hike

Hudson Highlands State Park,
Westchester Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Camp Smith Trail: Blue blaze

Total Time: 2:25 Hours
Estimated Distance: 2.6 miles

Pros: Good climb, excellent views
Cons: Difficulty parking, trail may be busy
Hike Type: Up and Down Same Route
Level of Difficulty: Difficult, especially in snowy and icy conditions

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/zhEdDRtzdr5992YRA

Hiking Partners:
Joseph Friedman
Elisha Friedman

The end of the previous week had warmed up, and although much of the snow had melted, there was still plenty of soft snow on the ground. The weather was seasonably cold, slightly above freezing, with a prediction for rain in the afternoon. It was cloudy and a bit windy, but there were several wet and muddy parts of the hike on the south-facing flanks of the mountain where the sun shone strongly.

We parked in the parking area in the bend on Routes 6/202. There isn't much parking here so on busy weekends it's recommended to come here early. On this day with snow covering the ground and rain in the forecast there weren't many cars here so plenty of parking space.

We took the Camp Smith Trail up, past the first view, where I broke my camera lens while accidentally dropping one. We continued up the trail, with the steep part up being very difficult with a combination of ice, snow, water, and mud. I took some pictures at the peak (with my phone camera at this point), and then headed back down along the same route back to my car.

Map of the Route

Information Kiosk at the Beginning of the Hike

Start of the Hike

Broccy Creek at the Beginning of the Hike

Crossing Broccy Creek

Approaching the First View at Anthony's Nose

At the First View, Facing Hudson River and Bear Mountain

View Across the River Looking Towards Iona Island and West Mountain

Iona Island and Dunderberg Mountain

Me at the First View

Bear Mountain from Across the Hudson River

Looking Ahead to the Anthony's Nose Summit

Overnight Campers at the First View

Small Pond at the First View

Warning Sign of Keeping out of the Live Firing Range

View from the Second View and the Bear Mountain Bridge

Bear Mountain Years from the Second View

Me at the Second View

Me Overlooking the Bear Mountain and Popolopen Gorge Bridges

Me on the Anthony's Nose Summit

View from Anthony's Nose Summit

View Facing South from the Anthony's Nose Summit

Sign to the Anthony's Nose Overlook at the Bear Mountain Bridge

Bear Mountain from Across Anthony's Nose

View from the Summit, Looking Across the Hudson River

View of Dunderberg Mountain

View Overlooking the Bear Mountain Bridge from Anthony's Nose

Me at the Overlook Above the Bear Mountain Bridge

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Popolopen Gorge Snow Hike

Bear Mountain State Park,
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
Timp-Torne Trail: Blue blaze
1779-1779 Trail: Red blaze
Popolopen Gorge Trail: Red blaze
Twin Forts Trail: Blue blaze
Appalachian Trail: White blaze

Total Time: 2:15
Estimated Distance: 3.4 miles

Pros: Scenic gorge, peaceful area
Cons: Lack of natural forest on last leg of the hike
Hike Type: 2 car point A to point B
Level of Difficulty: Moderate, though very difficult in current conditions

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/GfdM4aJemx6HY5WE6

Hiking Partner:
Shimon Rosenberg

Snow, snow, snow! This winter has been featuring a new snowstorm every few days. With fresh snow on the ground from Thursday and Friday's snowstorms, the snow level was quite deep. With a bright blue sky and fresh white snow, the scenery was incredibly idyllic and tranquil.

We parked the first car at the river parking area at Bear Mountain, near the Zoo. We then drove to the Popolopen Torne parking area where we left our second car. e parked at the Popolopen Torne trailhead parking, and took the Timp Torne Trail down to the gorge valley.

The path in the snow was already somewhat walked on from previous weekend hikers, but it was still quite difficult considering the depth of the snow. We walked parallel to the brook, joining the 1779-1779 Trails and crossing the brook on the new and sturdy bridge.

The brook was flowing very strongly and was particularly scenic with large snow mounds atop the rocks. After crossing the bridge, we took the Popolopen Gorge Trail along the south side of the brook, along its ups and downs, passing the dam and the waterfalls, and then to the end of the trail at Route 9W. We crossed the high bridge across the brook on the side of Route 9W, and entered the Fort Montgomery parking lot and walked along the visitor center.

The building and parking area were closed, either due to Winter or Covid, though not sure which. We took the Twin Forts Trail across the long pedestrian suspension bridge, and the at the junction of the Bear Mountain Bridge we took the connector path up to the bridge on Route 6/202 after seeing a sign posted that the connection to the Bear Mountain Zoo was closed.

We crossed the busy road and entered the zoo along the Appalachian Trail. We walked along the Zoo Path concurrent with the trail, and at the main entrance of the zoo continued straight on the path down to the parking area.

Wooden Getchkes at the Beginning of the Hike

Heading Down the Timp Torne Trail

Shimon at the Beginning of the Hike

Me at the Beginning of the Hike

Approaching the Bridge Across Popolopen Brook

Me at the Popolopen Brook Crossing

Popoplopen Brook from the Bridge

The Other Side of the Popolopen Brook

Shimon on the Popolopen Brook Bridge

Me at the Popolopen Gorge Trail with Popolopen Torne in the Background

Home Above the Popolopen Gorge

Bend in the Popolopen Gorge

Waterfalls in the Popolopen Gorge

Popolopen Gorge from Route 9W with Popolopen Torne in the Background

Me on the Popolopen Bridge on Route 9W

Shimon at Ft. Montgomery State Historic Site

Bear Mountain Bridge from the Fort Montgomery Site

Ft. Montgomery Trail Bridge on the Twin Forts Trail

Bear Mountain Bridge from the Fort Montgomery Pedestrian Bridge

Sunday, February 14, 2021

Frozen Greenwood Lake

Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park
Greenwood Lake
Orange Co.,
New York

Hiking Trails:
None

Total Time: 2:00 hours
Estimated Distance: 4.5 miles

Pros: Scenic lake that is great when frozen
Cons: None
Hike Type: Loop hike
Level of Difficulty: Very easy (with proper footwear)

Map of Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/N2TD5LqS1ar7RpFo7

Greenwood Lake is the largest lake in the region. It is 7 miles long and crosses the state line from New York into New Jersey. I had been here several years prior, and now with the first solid cold-snap in several years that allowed the lakes to fully freeze, I decided it was time for a return.

The scenery here is incredible. The lake is flanked by mountains on both sides, and with a deep layer of snow on the group it was an incredible winter scene. There were plenty of ice fisherman and spectators enjoying the tranquil location.

I parked at at the parking lot at Thomas P. Morahan Waterfront Park in Greenwood Lake village, at the northern end of the lake. This is the center of the activity on the lake on the winter. I walked through the area with the ice fisherman, and walked south about 2.5 miles not far from the state line. I turned around and then headed closer to the eastern side walking back towards the northern end of the lake and back to my car in the park parking lot.