We took this hike on Veterans Day, a couple of weeks ago. Silent Cougar, Major Tom and Grandpa started on South Mountain Road in North New City, and hiked along the Palisades Ridge to Central Highway. This was our last section on the diabase sill. The views from both Tors were spectacular, and the steep slopes were quite a workout. We met a park ranger and a police officer on quads. They were looking out for illegal hunters. The only gunshots we heard were from the Clarkstown P.D. firing range.
The Long Path has been re-routed to avoid the roughest terrain. Silent Cougar went up the stone steps on all fours, while the adults took the roundabout route. Thus is was the youngster who found the memorial to a deceased hiker. Perhaps High Tor was one of his favorite places. Even more dangerous was the drop-off at Little Tor. You could walk right off, and fall for hundreds of feet. Going up instead of down, there were lonely outcrops perfect for meditation and communing with nature. Too bad about all the litter. We picked up as much as we could.
The old woods road took us out to Central Highway, where our car was waiting. The Long Path continues west from there to Mt. Ivy. We did that hike on a dark and snowy day last winter. Silent Cougar writes a log about all our hikes. When I find that one, I will post it. Now, it is time to plan our route through Harriman Park.
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That's a great hike!
ReplyDeleteDoing it with three generations was fun, but the old guy found it challenging to keep up the pace. The dates carved in the rock and the anchorages for the former aircraft beacon on top of High Tor are interesting bits of history. I could almost see the "Half Moon" and the sloops of the old Dutch settlers on the River below.
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