Bear Mountain State Park

Bear Mountain is the site for the Rockland County Alumni Run.  After running the race, I decided that I would get some more mileage out of the $8 parking fee.  Plus I felt I needed to walk a bit more after the run. 

Bear Mountain happens to be the most popular park in the Hudson Valley.  I have done next to no hiking here.  In fact, besides the few times I've run the Alumni run, the only other time I've been here was to finish the Suffern Bear Mountain Trail a few years back.  I still hold onto this romantic notion of ascending Bear Mountain when I make my way from Georgia along the Appalachian Trail.  I most likely will break down before then. 

I made my way around Hessian Lake for a second time until I reached the Major Welch Trail.  According to Johnny Rocket, this is supposedly a real hardcore trail.  It's steep, but if it were in the Catskills or Adirondacks, it would be small potatoes.  Today though, I struggled a bit, due to a bit of fatigue from the run.  I walked about a mile up the trail to a view point.  I could see the summit and I only had a half mile walk left. 

Anthony's Nose from Hessian Lake

The views from here were great.  The Bear Mountain bridge was clearly visible.  The Hudson River to the north along with Storm King and Breakneck was in view.  Popolopen Torne and Harriman State Park were in view to the west.  Great views all around. 

Popolopen Torne and Harriman State Park

The view north

Bear Mt Bridge from Bear Mt

After walking down, I decided to walk down to the river and check out the zoo.  I spoke with one of the workers there and she told me that the animals were injured and will not be returned to the wild.  Of the coyotes, one was hit by a car and the other was shot.  They were being fed rats and beef. 

While walking down to the river, I noticed a statue of a head of a deer that came out of the cliff.  It's been there for about 80 years.  A train passed by, but fortunately the path went through a tunnel.  Despite the frigid temps, it was quite nice being near the water.  The view of the Bear Mountain Bridge and Anthony's Nose was quite beautiful. 

Bear Mt Bridge and Anthony's Nose

Iona Island and Dunderberg Mt