Hike #528 11/28/10
11/28/10 Sterling Forest/Mombasha Area loop with Jillane Becker
Along the Highlands and Allis Trails, Sterling Forest NY
This hike marked just over three years since Jillane first joined me on one of my crazy hikes, and in two days it would be our three year anniversery.
I was anticipating a good showing, like we had had the previous year hiking in Sterling Forest, but this time it ended up being only Jillane and I.
Like we did the previous two years, I opted to try to do the next section north of the Highlands Trail in Sterling Forest.
On the Highlands Trail, Sterling Forest NY
We parked along Rt 17A where we had started the previous hike, only this time we would do a loop to the north. There were a few hunters in the parking lot, but nothing to be too concerned about. In addition, hunting was not permitted much in the section to the north.
View from a utility line on the Highlands Trail north of Rt 17A, Sterling Forest NY
The Highlands Trail crossed over Rt 17A, then followed the coaligned Allis Trail to the north, down hill, then back up a bit closely parallel with 17A just up hill from it. It then turned away a bit and crossed a utility line which offered some limited views.
View along Highlands and Allis Trails, Sterling Forest NY
Highlands Trail view west in Sterling Forest NY
We continued along the trail, and as I recall this section of land was owned by I think Doris Duke, the same one who owned Duke Gardens in Raritan where I'd walked by on previous hikes, and no hunting was allowed on this section. There were a few limited views to the west as we continued on along the trail.
Power line along the Highlands Trail, Sterling Forest NY
We soon came to a power line crossing which offered some more superior views to the east and north. We took a nice little break here on a rock admiring the view.
View from the Highlands Trail, Sterling Forest NY
Power line view from the Highlands Trail, Sterling Forest NY
Shoe
We continued from here along the Highlands Trail and Allis Trail north. It continued on the ridge and eventually came to a fantastic view point to the north from Sterling Mountain where we could see off to as far as Mombasha Lake.
View north from Sterling Mountain on the Highlands Trail
Mombasha Lake and view from Sterling Mountain on the Highlands Trail
Resting along Highlands Trail in Sterling Forest NY
Along Highlands Trail on Sterling Mountain NY
Along Highlands Trail on Sterling Mountain NY
View from Sterling Mountain
View from Sterling Mountain
View from Sterling Mountain
Sterling Mountain NY
View from the Highlands and Allis Trails on Sterling Mountain
We continued north on the two trails and eventually joined the Appalachian Trail at Mombasha High Point. We turned right on the AT north from here.
Puncheon along the AT just north of Prospect Mountain
We descended for a bit, and crossed a woods road, then made our way to a section with some puncheons in place. I had already done this entire section, but heading the opposite way was different. We continued along on the puncheons as they led us gradually up hill and to the edge of a field.
AT puncheon near Mombasha Lake NY
Taking a break along the AT near Mombasha Lake and Rt 91
We took a break under a tree near Rt 91, and I talked to "Action Adam" Stevens on the phone, who was supposed to try to meet up with us, but he got lost and couldn't figure out what road crossing we were at, so he gave up and opted to do something else.
We crossed the road and passed within view of Mombasha Lake to the left. I ddin't remember being able to see it on my previous trip, and it probably was not visible with leaves on the trees.
From here, we began the steep ascent of Buchanan Mountain. It was far, far steeper than I'd remembered it being, and Jillane was a bit dehydrated. I was starting to get worried that my memory wasn't serving me right or something.
View from Buchanan Mountain, AT in NY
Buchanan Mountain view
We passed some excellent view points, and the mountain seemed to have a saddle in it where we went down, then back up extremely steeply to where it required hand holds.
Climbing Buchanan Mountain
Buchanan Mountain
We made our way to the east side of Buchanan Mountain and then began to descend along the AT. Little Dam Lake came into view from here as we made our way down.
Little Dam Lake from Buchanan Mountain
We continued along the AT to East Mombasha Road, a dirt road. We saw a group of people on the AT on Buchanan Mountain, the first of the entire day, and now saw two more apparently smoking pot. We knew we were closer to civilization. We turned right on East Mombasha Road and then skirted the edge of Little Dam Lake.
Little Dam Lake from East Mombasha Road
The meadow of Little Dam Lake
We continued along the road to the intersection with Bramertown Road and turned left. We continued down this road past the outlet of Little Dam Lake and around a sharp corner. We were heading for Long Meadow Trail, an old woods road, which started up ahead, but we cut up hill briefly to take a short cut off trail. It took us quickly to the woods road where we saw two more hikers, aside from a few hunters the last we'd see all day.
Along Long Meadow Trail
This road seemed to be still used by vehicles for a short distance, but then became much less improved as it made it's way to Clinton Road near Rt 17A.
Abandoned road parallel with Rt 17A
Where the trail reached the paved road, blazes continued along the road heading south, then turned right onto an abandoned road for a short distance, despite no trespassing signs. There was a place to park to the left, and that's where the couple that had been walking ahead of us were parked. They got there around the time we did and took off. We continued from the triple blaze at the end of the trail along the abandoned road.
Abandoned road parallel with Rt 17A
Indian Kill Reservoir and Rt 17A from an abandoned road.
The road paralleled Rt 17A and then sort of dead ended. There was a view over Indian Kill Reservoir to the south. We carefully climbed down the rocky cliff along the edge of Rt 17A and then crossed the highway.
Crossing Rt 17A near Indian Kill Reservoir
Judging by the maps, the road we were following across the highway was probably the rest of this road, probably the predescessor to Rt 17A. We followed it south from the highway, and looked for a way across a creek there, but htere was none at all. We then followed the road to where it sort of dead ended facing 17A, and we walked back out to it and headed west.
Abandoned road along Rt 17A
We continued walking along the highway, and just before a road and I guess a ski center or something that's supposed to be there, I saw a truck parking on the left. I knew a trail was proposed there, but didn't think it would be complete, and following woods roads not knowing which way to go was out of the question if there was no blazes and getting dark. However, we had a stroke of luck, this trail had been completed but not on the map yet. We turned left onto Hogback Mountain Trail, which only had a minimal ascent, and took it to the south. There were several places where other woods roads joined and left, but the route was marked so we were easily able to follow it south to it's terminus on Ironwood Drive.
New foot bridge on Hogback Mountain Trail, NY
There was a nice foot bridge at the very south end next to the road. There were also some hunters there asking if we'd seen any deer, and I hadn't. We followed Ironwood Drive, blazed as a connector route to the Sterling Valley Trail. Once we got to where there were some houses we were on a route we had already done before a year prior. We continued on the road a short distance and entered the woods onto the trail. Jillane was pretty dehydrated, so I decided to try to run up the ridge. Jillane waited at the base of the ridge.
I ran as best I could, and the trail was more flooded over than it was the previous time due to beaver activity. Still, I was able to get up the ridge very quickly without stopping, which made me feel pretty good considering the fact that I was still recovering from the fire.
I returned to my car and drove back to pick Jillane up. She had started walking Ironwood Drive back the opposite direction to meet me because it was too cold to be sitting still. She was fortunately okay after having something to eat and drink, but I was worried.
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