West Mountain



West Mountain, Harriman State Park (11/7/2009)

This is the hike of the week for 7/30/2009 as described on the NYNJTC site.

The first hike we ever did in the wonderful Harriman State Park was back in July of 2005, and it was partly along the ridge of West Mountain. Today we returned to West Mountain, from a different trail head and (for a good part) on different trails. This is easily one of the single best hikes in Harriman for sweeping views. I didn't know where to point my camera there were so many awesome views, in nearly all directions, though never at the same time. The fall foliage is still hanging on in some sections, but most of the leaves are off the trees. It's been windy and rainy lately and the leaves just couldn't hang on much longer.

Total distance hiked today was exactly 5 miles in approximately 3.5 hours -- there was quite a bit of climbing!

(Click on the thumbnail to bring up a bigger image in a pop-up window)


Anthony Wayne parking area

On the Fawn Trail

Climbing to the ridge

Perkins Memorial tower on Bear Mountain


On West Mountain ridge [photo by Laura]

Perkins tower ...

... on Bear Mountain

View west

 

Anthony Wayne parking area

More climbing

View west from ridge

Low-flying turkey vulture
 



And more climbing

Bear Mountain

View west
 


View east of the Hudson


Laura and the Hudson

View north
 


View west


Hikers meeting in the lot

 


View west

Steep descent

Little lemon squeezer

View to Bear Mountain
 


Palisades Interstate Parkway

Saplings

Ice!

Climbing again
 


View west


The Hudson

View of Iona Island
 


Bear Mountain

Young stumps

Anthony Wayne parking lot

Golden rod
 


Descending

View south


Fall colors
 


Dan taking photos [photo by Laura]


Glacial errata

[photo by Laura]
 


Vulture soaring

Fall foliage


Dan & the Hudson [photo by Laura]
 


Top of Bear Mountain Bridge



 


Hiking along the ridge

View south

AT trail sign

View west
 


Fall colors



Descending
 


Suffern-Bear Mountain trail

A very rocky descent


 


[photo by Laura]


Gorgeous colors on ridge

The Hudson from Cat's Elbow
 


Group of vultures

The Hudson ...

... from Cat's Elbow

Look at that color!
 


On Cat's Elbow


View south

 


View east


View west

 



Beechy Bottom Road

A leafy path

Foliage on Beechy Bottom Road
 

Photographs and content copyright © Dan Balogh
Web design by Dan Balogh