- Joined
- Apr 1, 2009
- Messages
- 1,079
Hey W&SS Folks-
Long time no post, but I've got some new pics to share.
I presume everyone knows what a gorge is, but how about a torne? Well, I Googled the word and nothing comes up. I guessing that it's a Dutch word, since they were some of the area's earliest settlers, but if you hike in, and study maps of Harriman State Park in NY, then you know what a torne is--- a steep a$$ hike up to a killer view spot.
Anywho, my hike started out at the ruins of fort Montgomery which is on a bluff overlooking the Hudson and the Bear Mountain Bridge:
A little history:
The hike is normally done as a round trip starting on the south bank of Popolopen river gorge, heading west up stream, crossing the River at the base of the torne, climbing up, then coming back along the north bank. However, last summer Hurricane Irene washed out the 60' foot bridge crossing the river, so I did the Hike as and out and back on the north side.
This picture taken a couple of weeks ago from Anthony's Nose, on the opposite side of the river, shows the whole hike:
The route starts out crossing under the NY Route 9W bridge heading westward upstream:
The trail passes through some wet lands........
......and along the old West Point aqueduct high above the Popolopen river:
After a bit the trail makes it's way down to the river:
After another bit of walking along the river I made it to the bridge that was washed out by Hurricane Irene:
Looking upstream:
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Now it was climbing time.
This hike is one of the steepest around. Here is the hill profile:
It was cold, but knowing I was about to working super hard to get to top, I took of a bunch of layers and started climbing. There was a bit of rock scrambling. Here are the pics from the way up:
A scrubby pine above the deciduous tree line:
Looking back down:
Almost to the views:
And... first view. Looking back towards the Bear Mt. Bridge:
Looking east towards the river:
Across the Popo to Bear Mt.:
Picture yourself on boat on the river.....
When I finally made it to the top of torne, I found the most patriotic summit marker I've ever seen:
It's not really that surprising to see something like this in the Hudson Highlands region since West Point is right there. In fact from the summit looking west the whole area is off limits West Point property.
This being blade forums, I would be remiss in not posting a knife picture. As is often the case, my Breeden Pathfinder got the nod for this hike, and I decided to take advantage of the setting to photograph it in a place of honor:
After a quick lunch, I headed back down. Here is a shot looking back up the trail:
Almost back to Ft. Montgomery and the Bear Mt. Bridge. In this picture you can see the Bear Mt. Bridge, the Rt.9W bridge, the CSX RR tracks, and a suspension foot bridge across the mouth of the Popolopen river.
Back under Rt. 9W:
A close up of the footbridge........
....... and I'm done. Whew!!!
I leave you with the Garden of the Fort:
Thanks for looking,
BEANBAG
Long time no post, but I've got some new pics to share.
I presume everyone knows what a gorge is, but how about a torne? Well, I Googled the word and nothing comes up. I guessing that it's a Dutch word, since they were some of the area's earliest settlers, but if you hike in, and study maps of Harriman State Park in NY, then you know what a torne is--- a steep a$$ hike up to a killer view spot.
Anywho, my hike started out at the ruins of fort Montgomery which is on a bluff overlooking the Hudson and the Bear Mountain Bridge:
A little history:
The hike is normally done as a round trip starting on the south bank of Popolopen river gorge, heading west up stream, crossing the River at the base of the torne, climbing up, then coming back along the north bank. However, last summer Hurricane Irene washed out the 60' foot bridge crossing the river, so I did the Hike as and out and back on the north side.
This picture taken a couple of weeks ago from Anthony's Nose, on the opposite side of the river, shows the whole hike:
The route starts out crossing under the NY Route 9W bridge heading westward upstream:
The trail passes through some wet lands........
......and along the old West Point aqueduct high above the Popolopen river:
After a bit the trail makes it's way down to the river:
After another bit of walking along the river I made it to the bridge that was washed out by Hurricane Irene:
Looking upstream:
Now it was climbing time.
This hike is one of the steepest around. Here is the hill profile:
It was cold, but knowing I was about to working super hard to get to top, I took of a bunch of layers and started climbing. There was a bit of rock scrambling. Here are the pics from the way up:
A scrubby pine above the deciduous tree line:
Looking back down:
Almost to the views:
And... first view. Looking back towards the Bear Mt. Bridge:
Looking east towards the river:
Across the Popo to Bear Mt.:
Picture yourself on boat on the river.....
When I finally made it to the top of torne, I found the most patriotic summit marker I've ever seen:
It's not really that surprising to see something like this in the Hudson Highlands region since West Point is right there. In fact from the summit looking west the whole area is off limits West Point property.
This being blade forums, I would be remiss in not posting a knife picture. As is often the case, my Breeden Pathfinder got the nod for this hike, and I decided to take advantage of the setting to photograph it in a place of honor:
After a quick lunch, I headed back down. Here is a shot looking back up the trail:
Almost back to Ft. Montgomery and the Bear Mt. Bridge. In this picture you can see the Bear Mt. Bridge, the Rt.9W bridge, the CSX RR tracks, and a suspension foot bridge across the mouth of the Popolopen river.
Back under Rt. 9W:
A close up of the footbridge........
....... and I'm done. Whew!!!
I leave you with the Garden of the Fort:
Thanks for looking,
BEANBAG
Last edited:
...thanks for bringing us along. :thumbup:
