I haven't climbed Raccoon Brook Hill, with its sweeping views (and the only existing ladder in all of Harriman, I believe), since
2008. So my friend Andy and I thought it was about time for another visit. And the weather could not
have been better. Early forecasts had it raining today but it was sunny for virtually the entire hike. And, for the first time this hiking season, it was what I would
call hot. Yes, summer is nearly here. I can feel it. The park was alive with green leaves and yellow buds. For an excellent comparison see the second photo from today
and compare it to the second photo from three weeks ago, when we started at the exact same point.
Today we once again parked at the overflow lot near Reeves Meadows Visitor Center and took the Pine Meadow trail east only this time all the way to the Kakiat which we took east-then-south to its southern intersection with the Raccon Brook Hills trail. This trail we took NE, climbing Raccoon Brook Hill steeply at times (including the aforementioned ladder) to get to the several sweeping views on the ridge. The 2012 version of NYNJTC South Harriman map has only one vista star on the entire mountain but there are at least three nice viewpoints (the map from a couple of years ago has two vistas denoted). At the end of the RBH we headed back north on Kakiat, crossed Pine Meadow Brook on a newly built bridge then headed west along along the northern bank of the brook. We next continued west along the Stony Brook trail before finally taking the Pine Meadow trail back to the car. Total distance hiked today was about 6 miles in about 3 hours and 45 minutes. (Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)
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Seven Lakes Drive heading east |
A much greener trail head |
Walking sticks for the taking |
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Pine Meadow trail is ... |
... bursting ... |
... with green! |
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Wildflowers |
Mountain Laurel |
New Kakiat bridge |
On Kakiat climbing |
Glacial erratic |
Blueberry fields |
Climbing on RBH trail |
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Cairn on Raccoon Brook Hill |
First views |
Spring yellow |
Andy at bottom climbing |
The RBH ladder awaits |
Steep boldering |
Streak of quartz |
The RBH ladder |
Andy awaits me |
Expansive views |
Powerline cut from ridge |
Relaxing with the view |
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Our lunch spot |
Continuing on RBH |
Third vista ... |
... from Raccoon Brook Hill |
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Iron in that rock |
The gorgeous RBH |
Glacial erratic ... |
... on RBH |
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Fourth vista on RBH |
Fire ring |
Poached Egg trail |
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Partial view from RBH |
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RBH cairn |
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Rock formations ... |
... with caves |
Swampy wet area |
Back on Kakiat trail |
Gorgeous greens |
Frog ... |
... on Kakiat |
Deer on Kakiat |
Near Cascade of Slid |
Cascades ... |
... near Slid |
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Rickety repaired Kakiat bridge |
Back on Pine Meadow trail |
Deep green hues |
The repaired Kakiat bridge |
Graffiti tree |
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