the "i dare yah to cross that bridge" hike.

[JV3]

this was a quick hike from yesterday to blow off some stress. i wonder if the water rises up higher and actually covers this trail in a downpour.

man, that water was moving fast! the noise it made was almost deafening.

one of many bridges i crossed.

hmm...what would bear do

that bridge looks mighty stable to me!

another bridge. i lost count how many bridges i already crossed at this point.

pretty high up now.

...but more climbing! i think i picked the wrong trail to load up my new backpack with 50 lbs to test out the ergonomics

even going down was a bit sketchy. 30 vs. 50 lbs makes a big difference.

an ankle-twisting trail...just rocks all over the place. this is good though since it prevents casual hikers just looking for a place to bring beer and leave their trash behind from going here.

this tree sure has a strong will to survive.

...another angle.

"the grass is always greener on the other side"...strange, i never thought i'd find myself on the greener side of things for once

my new pack performed better than expected with a lot heavier load than i will actually ever put on. 6-mile hike with a 50 lb pack and aside from my legs a little sore, no shoulder or any other sore parts. here's a more detailed first impression of it: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/837192-review-kifaru-g2-zxr-backpack.

gotta post knife pics...this is bladeforums after all. sorry, no knife use pics. i just packed them in for added weight and i mainly just wanted to hike on this trail and check out if it's a good trail to do an overnighter on...looks like this one will be one of my go-to spots :thumbup:

although i'm not good at it, i really like photography. that and writing software teaches me to pay more attention to details. i wouldn't have noticed this potential shelter if i wasn't paying attention and looked up constantly to scan my environment.

...part 1 of 3.

 

[JV3]

this is about 3 miles (2 hrs) in and the brush is really thick now...with all the marijuana grow shows i've been watching on the discovery channel lately, i can't help but be paranoid and think this massive boulder acting as a funnel is a good ambush spot for a hiker another member here posted recently the dea busted a grow on the same state park just 2 mi from his home.

either them or big foot...i can't help but get the feeling i'm being watched.

the roaring brook got divided enough that this one is calm and smooth as glass.

looked so damn crystal clear, i was tempted to just stick my hand in there and grab a handful to drink.

i wonder what these slash marks are for - harvesting the tree sap for something?

it doesn't matter how far you go, there's always some a-hole out there leaving trash behind. it looked like a giant styrofoam block.

excuse my iphone 4's crappy pic. not sure what fungus this is. i always keep an eye out for tinder fungus and have yet to find any.

reminds me of my "heebie-jeebies" hike from last summer showing weird angles on rocks - definitely man-made.

...part 2 of 3.

 

[JV3]

nice, flat slabs! this summer when it's hot, i probably will just put a sleeping pad on it and call it home for the night.

another potential emergency shelter.

...different angle.

massive boulder that's way up there from the trail.

the rear is a perfect spot for an overnighter! that massive flat area would make for an awesome heat reflector for the camp fire.

...except it has yet another hill behind it. i can't help but think while i'm facing the rock and enjoying the heat reflecting off of it, big foot is up there behind me somewhere watching

perfect spot to throw my tarp over for shelter. i'm sure that puny branch will hold up that log just fine

animal bones near the massive boulder.

braided steel cable running across the stream. i guess they used that for crossing before constructing the many bridges.

nice swirly thingy on the water. sorry, no close-up since i was getting tired at this point to climb down for a closer look and back up again. no zoom on my phone just yet.

trail henge! can you spot the 5 of them? they were way, way up there...too tired so i only went up about 2/3rd closer...next time i'll check out the nearby area.

almost stepped onto this little guy. he was alive, just too lazy to move away or he knew i had a camera with me.

i haven't gone to the range in months so first thing i thought of, "high-powered rifle range!". that hill would make a heck of a backstop for a .50bmg.

did i mention this trail has a lot of bridges?

that's it. i hope you enjoyed the pics...part 3 of 3.

 

[VictGerbSogCamill]

Nice pics, looked like a nice place to hike, but defiantly keep an eye where you step with all those rocks. Thanks for sharing JV3.

 

[Joben]

it doesn't matter how far you go, there's always some a-hole out there leaving trash behind. it looked like a giant styrofoam block.

The variety, and strangeness of some trash in the woods amazes me.
Beer bottles and such aren't surprising...but i always find myself wondering about some of it.
Why did someone have a large block of foam out in the woods?

And then theres these stuff that's large enough I wonder how someone got it out there without a team of pallbearers lending a hand.

 

[LMT66]

Looks like it was a nice day and thanks for taking us along! That's the kind of area I'd enjoy exploring.

Maybe that green styro-foam came from way upstream after high water flowed thru?

How is the shoulder lift on the ZXR with #50 in it? If you ever happen to get a picture with it on showing that, can you post it in your review thread?

 

[PropThePolecat]

Nice place...it looks like strenous terrain packing a heavy pack.

The second bridge dosent look like anything i would like to cross

Thanks for posting.

 

[dboles]

Thats a heavy pack good to see you did OK with it.Looks like a nice area to have a look around.Really enjoyed the pictures-its so different from what I see when out. I like the sitting spot that the trail crew built with the leftover material next to that bridge-Nice extra effort from them Thanks for taking the time and effort to post.It seems lately here that people make an effort to put up pictures ,text and then no one has anything to say other than to look.
Dan'l

 

[Doc13]

Great Pics :thumbup:

The weather is getting milder up here too, can't wait to get outside with my camera.

Thank you.

 

[kgd]

Lots to think about in all those shots. Thanks, beautiful country. That one rickety bridge looked a bit sketchy to me.

 

[6shooter]

Great pics, thanks for the post. Those massive glacial erratics always amaze me, crazy how something so big can get left behind so randomly.

 

[BlackMamba426]

Looks like a great hike. Are all those pictures just from your phone??

 

[JV3]

thanks, guys.

Nice pics, looked like a nice place to hike, but defiantly keep an eye where you step with all those rocks. Thanks for sharing JV3.

thanks. i've been reading about snakes here a lot so i kept my eyes/ears open for any rattlers too! i'd like to see one in the wild though instead of the store in pa.

The variety, and strangeness of some trash in the woods amazes me.
Beer bottles and such aren't surprising...but i always find myself wondering about some of it.
Why did someone have a large block of foam out in the woods?

And then theres these stuff that's large enough I wonder how someone got it out there without a team of pallbearers lending a hand.

on a nearby trail about an hour in i've also stumbled upon a rusted out washing machine looking thing about 100 yds off trail too. at least i haven't found a dead body yet - unlike this poor hiker on another park two months ago who saw someone who committed suicide!

Looks like it was a nice day and thanks for taking us along! That's the kind of area I'd enjoy exploring.

Maybe that green styro-foam came from way upstream after high water flowed thru?

How is the shoulder lift on the ZXR with #50 in it? If you ever happen to get a picture with it on showing that, can you post it in your review thread?

you're welcome! the foam might've came from upstream but as i got higher up it started getting divided up into smaller ones. i'm guessing some hiker brought it in while taking a dip in there.

funny you mention the shoulder straps, as i was hiking i kept thinking to myself that someone could put eggs underneath it and it won't crack. next time we're out i'll load it up and take detailed pics of the shoulder strap area.

Nice place...it looks like strenous terrain packing a heavy pack.

The second bridge dosent look like anything i would like to cross

Thanks for posting.

you're welcome! yeah, it was an ankle-roller for sure. there's a big section of that bridge missing from my side. i guess they left the rest intact so they can easily repair it. truth be told, i was a bit tempted to cross it. a little bourbon and ribbing from friends and i probably would've

Thats a heavy pack good to see you did OK with it.Looks like a nice area to have a look around.Really enjoyed the pictures-its so different from what I see when out. I like the sitting spot that the trail crew built with the leftover material next to that bridge-Nice extra effort from them Thanks for taking the time and effort to post.It seems lately here that people make an effort to put up pictures ,text and then no one has anything to say other than to look.
Dan'l

you're welcome! the trail maintenance crew here definitely works hard! there's a lot of shelters sprinkled all over this state park and except for one made of sheet metal that's pretty rusted, the walls are all made of piled up big rocks and cement, and the roof made of shingles that's used for real houses too. it's not like they're close to a road either, they're at least an hr of steep hiking in...really great crew. i need to ask around and volunteer labor one of these days.

Great Pics :thumbup:

The weather is getting milder up here too, can't wait to get outside with my camera.

Thank you.

thanks, doc. i'm still waiting for leaves to start budding out though. they're taking their time this year compared to last year.

Lots to think about in all those shots. Thanks, beautiful country. That one rickety bridge looked a bit sketchy to me.

with a shot or two, it's crossable

Great pics, thanks for the post. Those massive glacial erratics always amaze me, crazy how something so big can get left behind so randomly.

you're welcome! there's even a giant one in the middle of the brook. i was going to take a pic of it on the way back but there was a couple on it so i just quietly walked past them.

Looks like a great hike. Are all those pictures just from your phone??

yes. it does okay in bright light but in low light it's pretty much unusable. funny thing is i should've brought a real camera that day since i already intentionally over-packed it with water and stuff. i could've used a zoom on a lot of spots.

 

[Brian Jones]

Great photos and insight into the terrain, JV3! Thanks for sharing.

 

[wintermute]

Nice shots! Looks like it was a wonderful day out. What park were you at? Speak with the NY/NJ Trail Conference about getting on one of their trail clearing crews.

 

[gregncat]

Great pix!
That is some rugged terrain.
Wish we had places like that in this area.
Went for a small hike with my wife today....All flat. Her first hike of the year and my bad back, so we took it easy.
Thanx for sharing

 

[TheGame]

Thanks for sharing the pics bro. A lot of bridges I have seen look really bad, and end up being 100% stable even though they look really scary.

 

[devilpig]

Not man-made. You can see where the two rocks on the ground were once connected to the larger rock...like they fell off the side. Water gets in the cracks of the rocks and splits it apart. If you look at all the other pics of rocks you can see lots of other examples of rocks with seemingly perfectly flat faces. People didn't do all of that.

 

[beanbag]

Is that the Pine Meadow Lake trail in Harriman?

 

[JV3]

Great photos and insight into the terrain, JV3! Thanks for sharing.

thanks. glad you like 'em.

Nice shots! Looks like it was a wonderful day out. What park were you at? Speak with the NY/NJ Trail Conference about getting on one of their trail clearing crews.

thanks. it's harriman state park. i usually go there or jungle habitat in nj.

Great pix!
That is some rugged terrain.
Wish we had places like that in this area.
Went for a small hike with my wife today....All flat. Her first hike of the year and my bad back, so we took it easy.
Thanx for sharing

that's why i like this park so much, lots of different terrain. just 3 miles away there's another trail that's practically flat.

Thanks for sharing the pics bro. A lot of bridges I have seen look really bad, and end up being 100% stable even though they look really scary.

you're welcome. i'll try crossing that bridge next time and blame you if i fall in

Not man-made. You can see where the two rocks on the ground were once connected to the larger rock...like they fell off the side. Water gets in the cracks of the rocks and splits it apart. If you look at all the other pics of rocks you can see lots of other examples of rocks with seemingly perfectly flat faces. People didn't do all of that.

i can go either way. these features are also found in other trails just a few miles away from the one i was on...yeah, some weird stuff on the trails here :

this one was a solid piece of rock...not rocks stacked and the joints cemented smooth. it's way up there. nyc will have to be 500' under water for water to reach this rock.

rectangle'sh hole 3" or more deep.

near the appalachian trail:

Is that the Pine Meadow Lake trail in Harriman?

yes. i parked on the visitor center lot and followed the red to yellow trail until i hit orange and turned around.