Hike Date: June 4, 2011
Hike Location: Almost Perpendicular-Claudius Smith's Den Loop, Harriman State Park, NY
Hike Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Hike Rating (Scenic views or/and interesting terrain/vegetation): A+
Hike Description: This is more or less the Almost Perpendicular-Claudius Smith's Den Loop hike described in the book Take a Hike New York City. Took the (NJT-operated) Metro North Port Jervis Line to Tuxedo. Just north of the station, I crossed the track at the level crossing and headed on till I reached an intersection with East Village Road where I turned right and followed East Village Rd to the underpass under the NY Thruway. After the underpass, turned left and headed up the road. Within a few minutes, I came to the trailhead on the right side of the road. From here, I followed the white-blazed Kakiat trail till the intersection with the Blue Disc trail. Switched to Blue Disc and started a near-vertical ascent up Almost Perpendicular. Once the vertical ascent was over, took an inadvertent detour doing a vertical scramble up a rocky ledge near Dater Mine (thinking this was Almost Perpendicular). There is not much of a view here due to trees, but I did spot a deer from afar. After scrambling down, I chanced upon two other hikers who were also looking for Almost Perpendicular and they suggested that it was slightly further north. At this point, I could again see the Blue Disc markings (I had lost them for a while). In a few minutes, got to Almost Perpendicular. After enjoying the views, headed along the trail which climbs up Pound Mountain. Moved on towards Claudius Smith's Den for a really incredible view. Headed back, decending on Blue Disc Trail till Black Ash Swamp where I switched to the red-dot-on-white-background Ramapo-Dunderberg trail, and made my way back to the Tuxedo station.
Relevant Map: NY-NJTC Trail Map 118
Hike Location: Almost Perpendicular-Claudius Smith's Den Loop, Harriman State Park, NY
Hike Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
Hike Rating (Scenic views or/and interesting terrain/vegetation): A+
Hike Description: This is more or less the Almost Perpendicular-Claudius Smith's Den Loop hike described in the book Take a Hike New York City. Took the (NJT-operated) Metro North Port Jervis Line to Tuxedo. Just north of the station, I crossed the track at the level crossing and headed on till I reached an intersection with East Village Road where I turned right and followed East Village Rd to the underpass under the NY Thruway. After the underpass, turned left and headed up the road. Within a few minutes, I came to the trailhead on the right side of the road. From here, I followed the white-blazed Kakiat trail till the intersection with the Blue Disc trail. Switched to Blue Disc and started a near-vertical ascent up Almost Perpendicular. Once the vertical ascent was over, took an inadvertent detour doing a vertical scramble up a rocky ledge near Dater Mine (thinking this was Almost Perpendicular). There is not much of a view here due to trees, but I did spot a deer from afar. After scrambling down, I chanced upon two other hikers who were also looking for Almost Perpendicular and they suggested that it was slightly further north. At this point, I could again see the Blue Disc markings (I had lost them for a while). In a few minutes, got to Almost Perpendicular. After enjoying the views, headed along the trail which climbs up Pound Mountain. Moved on towards Claudius Smith's Den for a really incredible view. Headed back, decending on Blue Disc Trail till Black Ash Swamp where I switched to the red-dot-on-white-background Ramapo-Dunderberg trail, and made my way back to the Tuxedo station.
Relevant Map: NY-NJTC Trail Map 118
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| Ridge near Dater Mine |
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| Dater Mine |
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| View from Almost Perpendicular |
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| View from near Almost Perpendicular |
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| Lots of fern |
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| Very pretty wildflower |
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| More pretty wildflowers |
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| View from Claudius Smith's Den |
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| Panorama from Claudius Smith's Den (stitched together from just 5 and not very well-aligned photos...hence the clearly visible seams) |
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| Wildflower |
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| View from summit near Claudius Smith's Den |
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| Black Ash Swamp (it is dried up) |
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