2019-12-07 - Harriman-Bear Mountain 7 Peak Challenge
My friends Reece and Micheal joined me just past sunrise on Saturday at the Bear Mountain Inn to attempt the Harriman-Bear Mountain 7 Peak Challenge. This was a hike Micheal and I completed two years ago on 2017-11-25 led by Scott with the Hudson Valley Hikers; although Micheal and I did not know each other at the time. With the wintry cold nipping at our extremities, the nearby Bear Mountain Inn offered a pleasant Christmas-filled environment as our designated pre-hike bathroom spot. After a few minutes of preparation, we started our hike on the Appalachian Trail around 7:15 AM.
The hard climb up to Bear Mountain was filled with treacherous ice. As I munched my way up on egg and cheese sesame bagel with lettuce, tomato, and avocado, Reece and I wondered if we should have brought the microspikes we left in the car. Micheal donned his and used them for much of the hike. We reached Perkins Tower at the top of Bear Mountain around 8:00 AM and were treated with views of the rising sun warming the white-green landscape before us before descending down the winding western slopes. We passed Perkins Memorial Drive and Seven Lakes Drives and quickly located a turn we missed before continuing on the southbound AT.
The hard climb up to Bear Mountain was filled with treacherous ice. As I munched my way up on egg and cheese sesame bagel with lettuce, tomato, and avocado, Reece and I wondered if we should have brought the microspikes we left in the car. Micheal donned his and used them for much of the hike. We reached Perkins Tower at the top of Bear Mountain around 8:00 AM and were treated with views of the rising sun warming the white-green landscape before us before descending down the winding western slopes. We passed Perkins Memorial Drive and Seven Lakes Drives and quickly located a turn we missed before continuing on the southbound AT.
Reece and I hiked ahead on the Blue Timp-Torne Trail, reaching West Mountain around 10:00 AM and rested at the West Mountain Shelter nearby with views of the Hudson Valley painted before us. Reece shared a delicious Bobo's Oat Bar with me and Micheal soon joined us and had a snack himself. Together once more, we continued to reach The Timp at 11:00 AM and turned onto the Red Ramapo-Dunderberg Trail right after. We reached Bald Mountain at around 11:45 AM and Dunderberg Mountain at around 12:00 noon.
Five mountains down, we backtracked to the Cornell Mine Trail and made our slippery descent north towards 9W and Bear Mountain Inn. I crab-walked on all fours during the steepest downhill sections on ice and snow. The Cornell Mine Trail carried us to 9W and the Iona Island Doodletown Bird Conservation Area. Doodletown is a historic mining town and currently a great place to see and hear birds. Reece and I then ascended up the 1777 trail, which traces a historic path taken by British troops to capture Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton.
We stopped for a bathroom and vending machine break before reaching our vehicle in the parking lot around 1:10 PM after about 12 miles of hiking. Micheal caught up to us 10 minutes later and we took a long lunch break here after deciding not to attempt Anthony's Nose that day and just do the Popolopen Torne loop. It was really hard to get out and keep going when all you wanted to do was take a nap and be warm. If I was doing this hike alone, there was a high chance of me doing just that.
Five mountains down, we backtracked to the Cornell Mine Trail and made our slippery descent north towards 9W and Bear Mountain Inn. I crab-walked on all fours during the steepest downhill sections on ice and snow. The Cornell Mine Trail carried us to 9W and the Iona Island Doodletown Bird Conservation Area. Doodletown is a historic mining town and currently a great place to see and hear birds. Reece and I then ascended up the 1777 trail, which traces a historic path taken by British troops to capture Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton.
We stopped for a bathroom and vending machine break before reaching our vehicle in the parking lot around 1:10 PM after about 12 miles of hiking. Micheal caught up to us 10 minutes later and we took a long lunch break here after deciding not to attempt Anthony's Nose that day and just do the Popolopen Torne loop. It was really hard to get out and keep going when all you wanted to do was take a nap and be warm. If I was doing this hike alone, there was a high chance of me doing just that.
At 1:50 PM, we continued onto the ~6 mile Popolopen Torne Loop. We walked around Hessian Lake and crossed the dangerous highway twice to reach the start of the well-hidden Red Popolopen Gorge Trail. I was surprised at how much snow and ice there were on this side of the gorge hidden from the sunlight. Micheal and Reece put on their microspikes as I carefully hiked on ahead. Unfortunately, I missed a turn and ended up walking along Popolopen Creek with only what may have been coyote tracks to accompany me. By the time I was sure that I missed the turn, I decided to climb up the side of the gorge on all fours. Luckily, the ground was stable enough albeit almost completely hidden by snow. I crawled out onto the trail just in time to surprise Reece. We made our turn onto the Blue Timp-Torne Trail and Timp-Torne Spur Trail up towards Popolopen Torne. There was much less snow on this side and we made good progress up the steep slope and had great fun scrambling up the boulders near the top.
Reece and I reached the top at the Service Member Memorial at 3:30 PM and waited a bit for Micheal. I made a short phone call to my best friend, Gwen, before Micheal caught up. It's not often you get to call people from the top of mountains. The 360-degree views were dazzling but the wind was strong and the descent was total sketch. This side of the mountain was more shaded and its slippery steep slopes were filled with deadly ice. A combination of sliding, rappelling using fixed ropes, and crab-walking on all fours helped me get down. Grateful we weren't attempting this in the dark nor trying the steep Anthony's Nose unofficial trail in these conditions, we pushed on.
Gentler winding roads spirited us through the backyard of the Fort Montgomery neighborhood to Fort Montgomery proper, reaching there just before their parking lot closed at 5:00 PM. The sun was setting and the sky was colored a beautiful pink. We found the trail from Fort Montgomery down to the Popolopen Creek and crossed a wonderful metal footbridge with views of the Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose under moonlight as a cargo train raced by underneath.
After a little trouble finding the trail in the darkening conditions, we made our way up to the Bear Mountain Bridge area. Again, dangerously running across the highway twice, this time at night, we reached Hessian Lake and followed its attractive curve back to our vehicles. Running across highways continues to be one of the most dangerous thing people do on hikes. A job well done, we had hiked from sunrise to sunset. Micheal said goodbye and we each repaired to our own warm homes.
Reece and I reached the top at the Service Member Memorial at 3:30 PM and waited a bit for Micheal. I made a short phone call to my best friend, Gwen, before Micheal caught up. It's not often you get to call people from the top of mountains. The 360-degree views were dazzling but the wind was strong and the descent was total sketch. This side of the mountain was more shaded and its slippery steep slopes were filled with deadly ice. A combination of sliding, rappelling using fixed ropes, and crab-walking on all fours helped me get down. Grateful we weren't attempting this in the dark nor trying the steep Anthony's Nose unofficial trail in these conditions, we pushed on.
Gentler winding roads spirited us through the backyard of the Fort Montgomery neighborhood to Fort Montgomery proper, reaching there just before their parking lot closed at 5:00 PM. The sun was setting and the sky was colored a beautiful pink. We found the trail from Fort Montgomery down to the Popolopen Creek and crossed a wonderful metal footbridge with views of the Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose under moonlight as a cargo train raced by underneath.
After a little trouble finding the trail in the darkening conditions, we made our way up to the Bear Mountain Bridge area. Again, dangerously running across the highway twice, this time at night, we reached Hessian Lake and followed its attractive curve back to our vehicles. Running across highways continues to be one of the most dangerous thing people do on hikes. A job well done, we had hiked from sunrise to sunset. Micheal said goodbye and we each repaired to our own warm homes.
Overall, the 18-mile, 6-peak hike took us a full 10 hours and involved a good deal of scrambling and sliding. In this type of condition, I would only recommend it for experienced winter hikers and I recommend avoiding this in worse conditions. In three-season weather, it is definitely worth trying for everyone without snow and ice.