[Journal Entry for February 20, 2010; Hook Mountain]. While snow still lies on the ground, today definitely feels springy, with a bright sun and temperatures in the mid-forties, Fahrenheit. I park at the Long Path trailhead on Landing Road, behind Rockland Lake State Park. The Long Path runs along the crest of the Hudson Palisades, from South Mountain in My Ivy, New York, ten miles to my north, all the way to Ft. Lee, New Jersey, thirty miles to my south. I am hiking what I think of as the Hook Mountain section, southward from Landing Road to Upper Nyack, though technically the term Hook Mountain refers to the entire curving ridge that stretches from Upper Nyack to My Ivy, with the hook being the sharp westward curve that the ridge makes in Haverstraw.

Landing Road is in a notch through the ridge of the Hudson Palisades, and leads down to the Hudson River. I take the Long Path southward. It switches up the north flank of the notch, past several ruined stone foundations, and then heads southward through the woods. I take a side trail up to a wonderful overlook, perched on the cliff edge on a high point just south of the notch. I have a clear view of High Tor to the northwest and the Hudson River to my east. The Croton Point peninsula is just across the river from me. I can see northward into the Hudson Highlands and southward to the Tappan Zee Bridge. The northern view is more spectacular today, owing to the sun angle.

I rejoin the Long Path and continue southward. The ridge crest of the Hudson Palisades is quite hilly, and the trail winds up and down these hills. The vegetation here is mostly hardwood forest, with some cedars which I suppose to be the remains of some ancient planting. For a while the Long Path follows the remains of an old carriage road, built with thick fitted-stone retaining walls, that is set back a hundred yards or so from the cliff edge. Then it becomes a footpath and hugs the cliff edge, crossing several hilltops which afford nice views of the Hudson. The more open areas are vegetated with grasses; their tawny yellow nicely compliments the white snow and the dark brown rocks. I pass one patch of yucca, a reminder that the cliff edge can become very parched in summer, favoring succulents. On previous hikes here I have spotted prickly pear cactus, though with the snow cover, I see none today. The Long Path then swings westward and climbs to the highest point on this section. Looking northward, I can see that Rockland Lake is not entirely frozen, but instead has two large open stretches. Looking south, I can see the distant New Jersey section of the Hudson Palisades. Many turkey vultures are flying about, using the cliff’s updraft to power their effortless soaring,

The trail then descends steeply downward to Route 9W in Upper Nyack. This section of the trail can be fairly treacherous. I recall my daughter Hannah taking a nasty slide here on a patch of ice, back a decade or so ago when we hiked this section together. But conditions are excellent today and the walk down to Route 9W is unproblematic. I continue southward along the highway for another half mile, heading for the convenience store at the Citgo Station, to buy a snack. I get a few glimpses of Hook Mountain’s impressively high south-facing cliff though the trees. I notice several glacial erratic boulders in the woods beside the highway, including a large one composed of the light grey gneiss that is so common in the Hudson Highlands.

I walk back along the highway as far as Rockland Lake State Park and then take the bicycle path along the lake’s circumference. I meet another Lamonter, Gus, who together with his wife are out for a stroll. I spot many birds by the lake, including Canada Geese, gulls and swans. Finally, I cut over to Landing Road and my car. I encounter a flock of a dozen or more Guinea Fowl near the firehouse. These birds are not native to New York and I suppose them to be somebody’s pets.

About three and a half hours, overall.