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Sunday, February 8, 2009
Orak Ruin
Just a small day hike today, just to get out and play in the nice weather. We started out in Harriman State Park on route 106 at an unmarked parking area (more like a pull-off), you will see yellow-blazes on the guardrails and trees. Using the NY/NJ Trail Conference map 118, we headed up the yellow-blazed Suffern-Bear Mountain trail on the same side as the parking area. What a great little hike! No rocks! Mountain laurel! Nice (this time of year with no leaves) views! In less than 30 minutes you will hike to the Orak Ruin. The ruin, as the story goes, was formerly the mansion owned by George Briggs Buchanan. Mr. Buchanan was the V.P. of Corn Products Refining Co. (the makers of Karo syrup). He named his estate Orak (Karo backwards) and seemed to be a quirky fella. When he built his dining room, he designed the floor to move like a ship's cabin, he even added portholes for windows. I'd give anything to go back in time to the 1920's, all the strange history seems to come from that era. We played there for a while, a lot of the foundation is still standing, but watch your step, there are a lot of old pieces of metal laying around. Back on the trail, where at times you can view the Hudson River, it's just a short hike to a fire tower. Now (this is where my love for Sterling Forest comes in), unlike the Sterling Forest fire tower, you can't get near this one. But, boy! is it big! After staring in awe of its size, we just followed the fire tower road back down the mountain until we met up with the yellow-blazed trail again. Retracing the trail back down, we stopped once again to play in the ruins, but this time, some small cabins across from the Orak ruin. Then we followed the trail back to the road, but now we crossed the road and followed the yellow-blazed Suffern-Bear Mountain trail the other way toward the "Irish Potato". Again, a very relaxing, easy hike. Just follow the yellow-blazed trail as it ascends Irish Mountain. At the summit, you will find the largest boulder you have ever seen, this is the Irish Potato. It's more impressive when you take a picture of someone standing next to it for proportion. After playing with the rock tripe on the boulder, we headed back down, following the yellow-blazed trail back to the car. Not a big hike, but I didn't break any bones, and in my book, that's always a good day.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Gertrude's Nose
To hike the route we did, visit: www.nynjtc.org/trails/record/080703.html
Well, my favorite hike was the Ricketts Glen Falls Trail, I need a least favorite, and this would be it. Well, to be fair, it wasn't all bad, let me start at the beginning.
First, DO NOT attempt to park on State property before 9 am (even if the gates are open). I know you hikers like to get out early, but since NY can't tax it; they prohibit it. And, I think the High Point employees were helping out in NY the day we hiked. Yep, just plain not nice!
So, finally allowed to park, off we went. The hike to Gertrude's Nose was amazing. It was relaxing and well maintained with spectacular views. That's L&O in the picture to the left, it was a perfect day!
Then we left the cliffs. GRRR! When Gertrudes Nose Path ends and the Millbrook Ridge Trail begins the hike turns deadly (okay, no one died, but I did fall back on my pack and like a turtle I couldn't get up! That could have been bad). Seriously, for most of the hike back to the parking area the trail is not really maintained. The path is overgrown, not well blazed, and follows a water run-off trail, which means a lot of rocks and moisture, a deadly mix for sprained ankles.
Wait, sorry to interrupt, but I have to tell you this! A few weeks ago I requested that the house I live in get real recyclable containers from the county, so I wouldn't need to make my own anymore. Well, the genius from upstairs just came downstairs, once again, to argue with me that not only is recycling a scam, but polystyrene (a.k.a. Styrofoam) is the most biodegradable material on earth. LOL, welcome to my world! This is why I like to hike, it's peaceful, beautiful, and no (or very little) people! Okay, back to the hike!
Before you attempt this 8+ mile hike (some guides claim 8 miles, some 9), remember that you actually hike down to Gertrudes Nose, so on the last end of the loop, it's all uphill. Had you been hiking the day we were, you would have heard me complaining about this for at least 2 miles
A little background, Gertrudes Nose is a part of the Shawangunk Ridge (a.k.a. The Gunks). It's a ridge of mountains in Ulster County, Sullivan County and Orange County in New York extending from the northernmost point of NJ to the Catskill Mountains (and yes, High Point is included in the Gunks, it explains a lot, huh). Known for it's rock climbing, the ridge has also been designated by the Nature Conservancy as one of the "75 Last Great Places on Earth". I would agree with the last statement, it was beautiful, just not a great hike, there's a difference.
Ricketts Glen State Park, PA
I'm not quite sure what to say about Ricketts Glen State Park, I'm still speechless from the experience. By far my favorite hike, the 7.2 mile, difficult Falls Trails leads hikers past 21 waterfalls ranging in height from 11-feet to 94-feet, all are amazing in their own way.
If you park in the trailhead parking on Rt.118, called the Evergreen Trail Lot, the entrance to the Falls Trail is directly across the road. For an added bonus, another waterfall, the 36' Adams, is located at the end of this parking area.
Ricketts Glen Natural Area is a National Natural Landmark comprised of 13,050 acres in Luzerne, Sullivan, and Columbia counties.
Bring lunch, a good camera, and sturdy boots (the trails get very wet and slippery). The hike itself is very challenging, but I didn't fall once, so that's a good sign!
For more info, visit:
http://www.visitpaparks.com/
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