[Journal entry for November 12, 2011; Mt Taurus (Bull Hill), Hudson Highland State Park, NY]. I have been intrigued by Mt Taurus (Bull Hill) since the spring, when I was able to view it from across the river at the Pitching Point. I could see that it commanded a marvelous view of Storm King and the other hills along the west shore of the Hudson River. I parked at the Little Stony Point lot, just off of Route 9D, and took the Washburn trail (blazed in white) steeply uphill. The Fall Foliage is almost gone now, yet I could still find occasional colorful trees. The trail leads to an old quarry, cut into the southwest flak of the mountain, a scar that I could see from the Pitching Point. The quarry floor is flat, covered with grass and short sparsely-spaced trees. I walked a loop trail around it. The north wall of the quarry is the steepest. It has a large smooth face (a fault surface, maybe) that is streaked with water marks. After completing the loop, I continued up the steep and rocky trail. Just above the level of the quarry, a little off of the trail, I found an overlook that commanded a great view towards the northwest. I addition to the quarry below me, I could see Little Stony Point, the Hudson River and Crow’s Nest and Storm King mountains. A little further uphill, I began to get some views looking towards the south, as well, which while marred by haze, were still very nice. The Hudson has somewhat sinuous appearance here, as it winds between Constitution Island and West Point. The trail continues mostly upward, though it dips down in one spot to into a small valley with a small stream flowing out of a wetland, and then again as it passes a small pond. If the hill has a sharp summit, I did not find it. The Washburn trail slowly stopped gaining elevation and then began to descend, about the time that I passes the intersection with the Nelsonville trail (blazed in green). I came to a broad shelf of rock on the north side of the mountain that afforded a great view to the north. Breakneck ridge, the next highland to the north, was separated from me by a deep valley. The east end of the ridge drops precipitously. In the open space to its east I can see up the Hudson Valley. The land to the north is fairly flat, except that on the distant horizon, faintly, I can make out Shawangunk ridge. The route now descends steeply. I follow a woods road (blazed in white); temporary signs indicated that the alternative, a hiking trail, is closed due to erosion. The woods road takes me down into the valley of Breakneck Brook. Most of the route is drably colored; brown leaves and grey rocks. But I come across one area full or orange-to-red thorn bushes that is very bright and beautiful. I walked among them for a bit, trying to ascertain why they grow here. Some nearby trees seemed to be overgrown ornamentals. So perhaps the bushes were once part of a garden. I then continued along the woods road, connecting eventually with the Brook trail, which follows Breakneck brook. This valley is full of ruins. The first I come across is a large concrete structure with large ground-level rooms. I take this to be the ground-level garage of a frame house that was now missing, above. A little further down the path I encountered a concrete pump house by a small concrete dam. The impoundment is entirely full of gravel and rocks. Further down still, I come to a circular stone ring, perhaps thirty feet in diameter, enclosing a murky pond, which I suppose was an old water tank. Finally, I come to a ruined stone mansion, complete with greenhouse, arch ways and stone walls. Several of its walls and chimneys are still intact. This area has especially large trees, including one very large Tulip tree. Soon afterward, I reach Route 9D. I followed a little side trail that paralleled the highway until I was back to the parking lot. About 4 hours.