Two years ago we hiked this double-ridge mountain from the east, climbing the eastern ridge to the Megaliths. Two weeks ago, we hiked it from the northern tip, staying
mostly on the eastern ridge, but spending some time on the northern tip of the western ridge. Last week we hiked it from the southern tip, staying
completely on the eastern ridge. This time we climbed it from the west, at the Clove Road parking area near the Hil-Mar Lodge. And this time we stayed on
the western ridge.
We did a lollipop starting on the Long Path at Clove Road, climbing the western ridge on gradual switchbacks. At the LP's intersection with the red-blazed Barton Swamp Trail, we made a left onto the swamp trail and descended into the hollow between the two ridges. We followed this trail, which crossed Baby Brook several times and ran parallel to it the entire time. At its southern end it intersected with the Long Path. We had lunch near the intersection before taking the LP all the way back to Clove Road. The hike is about 6 miles and offers wonderful views to both the east and west. (Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)
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Schunemunk from Clove Road |
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LP ascends mountain on switchbacks |
View west through trees |
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Rocky LP |
View west through trees |
First glimpse of the conglomerate |
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Lonesome little pine on Barton Swamp trail |
View east to Hudson River |
Stewart International Airport |
Hudson River |
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View east |
Slippery conglomerate |
Descending into the hollow |
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Crossing Baby Brook |
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Swamp trail is narrow in parts |
Barton Swamp |
Barton Swamp |
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Protect that camera [photo by Laura] |
Mushrooms [photo by Laura] |
A still Baby Brook |
The first red eft of the season! |
Gigantic blow-down |
Our lunch spot with view of eastern ridge |
Hunk of conglomerate |
Climbing a hunting blind |
View of eastern ridge |
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View of eastern ridge |
View NW |
View NW with Catskills on horizon |
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Another hunting blind |
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Gorgeous conglomerate |
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Giant ant hill |
Ants at work |
Watch your step! |
Nice drop |
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View west |
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Wet pine needles |
That's me [photo by Laura] |
View NW from western ridge |
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View SW from western ridge |
Quarry off Clove Road |
Beaverdam Lake |
View of hills to SW |
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Iron ore |
Laura taking the next photo ... |
[Photo by Laura] |
Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh Web design by Dan Balogh |