Dana
Member
This was a low key hike. The original plan was the short hike to Smith's Den that we often do in the winter, but my friend couldn't make it and it was so warm (for a January hike), so my plan B was a hike I've thought about for a couple of years, camping on one of the ridges on the southeast side of the park, with views to the south.
From the Kanawauke parking area (actually I parked at a group camp I'm affiliated with), the plan was to bushwhack south of Spring Pond (on Rt. 106 near the Kanawauke circle) to the Long Path, then head south toward Limekiln Mountain or Panther Mountain. After crossing the bridge between the second and third Kanawauke lakes, I stopped by the chapel there to shed a layer and ake some pack adjustents. Funny that with the hundreds of times I've driven by here, I've never taken a close look. Quite the ironwork on the chapel doors:
Continuing east, cross Seven Lakes Drive, I climbed the hill south of the traffic circle. Here there is an iron lean-to used by some of the area group camps for overnight trips (not open to the public, who'd want to camp that close to the road anyway?):
Continuing on south of Spring Pond through mostly open woods with occasional patches of mountain laurel, I came on a trail marked with cairns and occasional green spray paint blazes. Since it headed generally east I followed it, and it brought me to the Long Path, which I followed south to the top of Pole Brook Mountain, where there's a clearing with stone walls and old cellar holes where I stopped for lunch. Hot enough in January to shed my shirt and lay in the sun for awhile! I continued south on the LP, passing only one hiker, a woman hiking alone, then I chatted with a cyclist when I crossed Lake Welch Drive.
There were three guys camping at Big Hill Shelter, and a large group of women day hikers, so I continued on my way, following the unmarked trail around Second Reservoir, to the SBM trail. Deciding I was too tired (and it was too late) to continue on to Panther Mountain, I took the Red Arrow trail when I got to it. Once through the swamp, I left the trail in the area of some rock walls and headed up onto Limekiln Mountain. Lots of laurel and blueberries on the summit, and no views, so I continued SSE to a lower bump, where I was rewarded with a nice view all the way down to New York City:
Yes, that's Manhattan in the middle of the picture:
No room for a tent but I never use one anyway, and the weather was so fine I didn't even bother with my bivy sack. Had a lovely nightime view also:
continued...
From the Kanawauke parking area (actually I parked at a group camp I'm affiliated with), the plan was to bushwhack south of Spring Pond (on Rt. 106 near the Kanawauke circle) to the Long Path, then head south toward Limekiln Mountain or Panther Mountain. After crossing the bridge between the second and third Kanawauke lakes, I stopped by the chapel there to shed a layer and ake some pack adjustents. Funny that with the hundreds of times I've driven by here, I've never taken a close look. Quite the ironwork on the chapel doors:
Continuing east, cross Seven Lakes Drive, I climbed the hill south of the traffic circle. Here there is an iron lean-to used by some of the area group camps for overnight trips (not open to the public, who'd want to camp that close to the road anyway?):
Continuing on south of Spring Pond through mostly open woods with occasional patches of mountain laurel, I came on a trail marked with cairns and occasional green spray paint blazes. Since it headed generally east I followed it, and it brought me to the Long Path, which I followed south to the top of Pole Brook Mountain, where there's a clearing with stone walls and old cellar holes where I stopped for lunch. Hot enough in January to shed my shirt and lay in the sun for awhile! I continued south on the LP, passing only one hiker, a woman hiking alone, then I chatted with a cyclist when I crossed Lake Welch Drive.
There were three guys camping at Big Hill Shelter, and a large group of women day hikers, so I continued on my way, following the unmarked trail around Second Reservoir, to the SBM trail. Deciding I was too tired (and it was too late) to continue on to Panther Mountain, I took the Red Arrow trail when I got to it. Once through the swamp, I left the trail in the area of some rock walls and headed up onto Limekiln Mountain. Lots of laurel and blueberries on the summit, and no views, so I continued SSE to a lower bump, where I was rewarded with a nice view all the way down to New York City:
Yes, that's Manhattan in the middle of the picture:
No room for a tent but I never use one anyway, and the weather was so fine I didn't even bother with my bivy sack. Had a lovely nightime view also:
continued...
