2016-12-10 - Long Path - Nyack to Lake Skannatati
On a cold and early morning, my friend Neil and I returned to West Nyack to continue the 300+ mile Long Path. From the starting point we headed uphill alongside a highway before turning into the woods. The trail then led us around a cemetery and in between various neighborhoods before depositing us on a familiar section of the 9W highway that I recognized from cycling.
We soon left the highway and descended through the woods to Nyack Beach State Park. From there, we slowly ascended Hook Mountain in a circular fashion, welcomed along the way by views of the Hudson River and the Tappan Zee Bridge. At over 700 feet in elevation, the summit of Hook Mountain afforded us a great panoramic view of the surrounding land and water. It was fantastic. The trail undulated gently up and down and passed by an old cemetery and a golf course before reaching the 9W again.
After leaving Hook Mountain, we traveled along rarely-used roads and stopped at Drew's Place Deli for breakfast sandwiches. The warm food and atmosphere made for a much-enjoyed if brief rest stop before we continued into High Tor State Park. The views at the top of High Tor, the highest peak in the Palisades at 797 feet (243 m), were even better than on Hook Mountain. We continued to Low Tor before crossing into South Mountain County Park, me running most of the downhills along the way and Neil leading on the uphills.
The trail from South Mountain County Park to Harriman State Park was unmaintained and rough at times, filled with fallen trees and overgrown vegetation. We hiked northwards in between a fence and the Palisades Interstate Parkway. After entering Cheesecote Park in the town of Haverstraw, we climbed uphill quite a bit and passed by the wreckage of an old car. We were glad to see the glassy waters of the half-frozen Cheesecote Pond.
The trail from South Mountain County Park to Harriman State Park was unmaintained and rough at times, filled with fallen trees and overgrown vegetation. We hiked northwards in between a fence and the Palisades Interstate Parkway. After entering Cheesecote Park in the town of Haverstraw, we climbed uphill quite a bit and passed by the wreckage of an old car. We were glad to see the glassy waters of the half-frozen Cheesecote Pond.
We continued over hills and through valleys into the snowy trails of Harriman State Park. At the top of one climb, we exchanged greetings with some campers at Big Hill Shelter. Choosing not to stop though, we picked up our pace as it started to snow. At times, the trail of footprints left by previous hikers was hard to spot in the snow and fading sunlight, but eventually we made it to Lake Skannatati.
Finally finished, we walked back and forth along the road for a while, trying to find a signal and slowly freezing in the chilly air, before a kind hiker picked us up and drove us into town halfway to our car. We called an Uber from there to get back to our car and drove home. We had finished the hike in just over 10 hours total at a blazing pace. At over 6000 feet, this hike was twice the elevation gain of our first Long Path hike and 1.5 miles longer to boot at 24.5 miles total. We were pumped and look forward to continuing the Long Path in 2017.
