The day was perfect. A large group of us appeared at the VFW just prior to 10:00AM, collected our instructions on Harriman State Park and departed just slightly after the hour.
We parked on the side of the road and collected our packs and went to the gated access road a short distance from our cars. Once we did a quick headcount – 21 in total – we entered the forest. Although overgrown, we saw the ruins of ORAK mansion, a gatehouse, and retaining walls and columns. We stayed to the left of the active transmission tower and private property and proceeded deeper into the woods, following the yellow markers on the trees and rocks, which guided us along the Suffern-Bear Mountain Trail (S-BM).
We found the Jackie Jones Fire Tower and took turns climbing the stairs and gazing all around – above the treetops. Though the tower is perhaps, 60 foot tall, the top observation house was locked and we could only proceed up to the last landing. Once everybody got their chance, we hydrated and were off again towards our next destination, Big Hill Shelter, but before leaving, we spied a SKUNK waddling thru the forest. We wanted to stay far way from him, because these guys are nocturnal and should not be out in the middle of the day – which means he could have been sick.
Big Hill Shelter is a stone constructed lean-to house facing South towards the NYC skyline. When we arrived, there was a thru-hiker having lunch who spoke with us about his travels and took pictures, for our website, of our entire crew. It was here we sat down and enjoyed lunch. While eating, some of our scouts wandered around investigating and discovered a Copperhead snake curled up. Some scouts stayed back a distance, took photos and before long it disappeared into the leafy underbrush.
Now we change pace, heading down the mountain, in parts retracing our path and return to our vehicles. It was a great hike to an area we had never been to before. Flowering mountain laurel and lush green leaves of the forest surrounded us. The day was fantastic, the weather totally agreeable and this hike was a memorable one. We enjoyed having many of our new scouts and their parents join us – and look forward to many more.
*Photos are being added onto the ‘photo gallery’. Will advise when posted. If anyone has photos to share, please email them to Mrs. Victoria Feuerstake at <feuer3hm@optonline.net>