Raccoon Brook Hill



Raccoon Brook Hill, Harriman State Park (5/7/2013)

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)


Seven Lakes Drive heading east

A much greener trail head

Walking sticks for the taking


Pine Meadow trail is ...

... bursting ...

... with green!

 



Wildflowers

Mountain Laurel
 


New Kakiat bridge

On Kakiat climbing

Glacial erratic

Blueberry fields
 


Climbing on RBH trail


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


 


Our lunch spot

Continuing on RBH

Third vista ...

... from Raccoon Brook Hill
 




Iron in that rock

The gorgeous RBH
 


Glacial erratic ...

... on RBH


Fourth vista on RBH
 


Fire ring

Poached Egg trail


Partial view from RBH
 



RBH cairn


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


Rickety repaired Kakiat bridge
 


Back on Pine Meadow trail

Deep green hues

The repaired Kakiat bridge

Graffiti tree
 

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