2016-05-15 - Bull Hill (Mt. Taurus)
My parents, their friend, and I drove up to the start of the Lone Star Trail in the Hudson River Valley about 70 minutes from Jersey City. I was carrying the same backpack and contents (except food) I would use for the Catskills Devil's Path backpacking trip 2 weeks later. This trip was important to testing out all the gear I bought, making sure everything fits into the discontinued several-year old GoLite 50L pack, and also to see how the pack feels while hiking.
The morning was bright and sunny but clouds were rolling in. We embarked on the trail at about 8:45 AM and soon reached the first landmark, Split Rock, where the Lone Star Trail connects with the Split Rock Trail.
The morning was bright and sunny but clouds were rolling in. We embarked on the trail at about 8:45 AM and soon reached the first landmark, Split Rock, where the Lone Star Trail connects with the Split Rock Trail.
We stayed on the Lone Star Trail and soon reached the green Nelsonville Trail at mile one. My mother was feeling sleepy and headed back to the car to take a nap but we continued onward to the start of the white Washburn trail that would wind us up to the peak of Bull Hill, otherwise known as Mt. Taurus. Just past the peak at around mile 2.3, we took a break to eat and test out my cook set for the first time. I didn't use enough Antifreeze to boil the entire pot of water but it worked to warm it up and our bellies after we drank it.
The trail down from Washburn is steep and fast and more of a straight shot without twists and turns. We stopped at a black pool of water to try out my filtration system (filter + Aquamira) but didn't drink the water. My dad tasted it after we got back home and said it had a medicinal taste. There was a few more wonderful overlooks along the way. We could even spot the Manhattan skyscrapers in the distance.
We turned left onto the yellow Undercliff Trail at around mile 3 and and left again to the green Nelsonville Trail at mile 4. Along the way, I was able to trail run downhill some of the portions before waiting for the other two to catch up. The pack felt fine and I had no real issues. My dad had the chance to skip across a stream and swing like Tarzan! We hiked past fences, streams, debris probably carried downstream during a storm, a stone building, and wonderful white leaves on a tree.
Around mile 5, we reached the red Split Rock trail and took it back to the blue Lone Star Trail. My mom stood at the intersection waiting for us with a smile. Reunited, we continued to the car and drove to the Silver Spoon Cafe in Cold Spring for a well-deserved meal.
Around mile 5, we reached the red Split Rock trail and took it back to the blue Lone Star Trail. My mom stood at the intersection waiting for us with a smile. Reunited, we continued to the car and drove to the Silver Spoon Cafe in Cold Spring for a well-deserved meal.
I slept most of the way back home and man were my legs tight. It was a great hike and great training for both the 50 mile Freewalkers Big Walk a week later and the Catskills Devil's Path backpacking trip the weekend after.