I got an early start yesterday – on the trail at 7:07am – and was greeted with some very nice hiking conditions and superb weather. +2F at the start and feeling pretty nippy, which was actually a benefit climbing the couple of hills to get into Harriman, and then the sun peeked over the ridges as I was heading down to Lemon Squeezer.
With no pre-set plan for a loop, I just decided to continue down to Bald Rocks and then to Bowling Rocks, only because I'd never seen them in the winter, or at least covered with snow. There was also a short section of the AT that goes through the park which I hadn't done, so I followed trails up to the Fingerboard Shelter, then followed the AT back to Island Pond Mountain, which is where I camped for the night. I got out early this morning and did the 2-mi snowshoe in a little over an hour.
Overall, great little trip and spectacular weather. Very little wind all day, even on the baldies, and virtually zero at my campsite. Clear blue skies all day. My camp location was chosen to have some warm, morning sun, but as forecast it got cloudy overnight and also was not as cold as predicted, getting down to +10F.
Nearing the saddle at Green Pond Mtn, greeted by the sun.
On the Ramapo-Dunderberg trail, not far from Bald Rocks.
Bald Rocks shelter. I wonder how they made those walls from granite slabs… plenty of raw material nearby, for sure.
Bowling Rocks certainly looks a lot different in winter with the granite 'bowling alley' rocks covered in snow.
Natural Bonsai with this very old pine whose growth has been stunted by hilltop exposure.
Fingerboard Shelter
My campsite in a sheltered location on the east side of Island Pond Mtn
Broken cigar repaired with a little toilet paper
Sunset near the AT. No shortage of little varmint tracks everywhere.
Swampy area near the camp… not a good place to camp in summer!
Way past sunset looking east there was a fabulous pink band at the horizon. The photo really doesn't do it justice.
Sunrise, and the only hint of warmth to be seen, which lasted about 2 minutes before fading.
I encountered this guy skiing in as I went out. Conditions didn't seem good for skiing.
