[Journal Entry for February 7, 2014; The Long Path at Eagle Rock, Palisades, NY]

The snow that fell Monday was heavy but skiable, but the snow that fell Wednesday was coated by the freezing rain that fell at the end of the storm, and crusted over during the following night. Dallas and I, on snowshoes, pounded out a trail through it Thursday morning, from the Lamont Campus, up Old Route 9W and Ski Trial D, to State Line Lookout.

The weather was still cold on Friday morning and the sky had cleared to a beautiful blue. I donned my snowshoes again and retracted yesterday’s route to the Lookout. The climb was easier, since the trail was now compacted and I was not continually breaking through the crust, as we did yesterday. Wednesday’s freezing rain left a rind of ice on many of the trees and bushes that glistened in the morning sun. I passed several places were deer had scraped away the snow in order to get at the ground below. I suppose that they are feeding on old leaves, or perhaps roots from below the leaves, for nothing green was exposed by their diggings.

I visited the Lookout, a promontory of rock that extends out from the ridge crest of the Husdon Palisades Cliffs. It commands a very nice view of the Hudson River and of the cliffs to the north. I then walked south along the cliff edge. Looking down, I could see old pilings extending out into the river, from some now long-defunct marina, which had trapped much floating ice. This stretch has bushes and trees overhanging the cliff edge. They were coated with a rind of ice and very pretty. I walked as far as the overlook just north of where the Long Path descends down into a deep ravine. The view south was very high contrast, owing to the sun being in front of me – black cliffs and blazing white snow.

I then headed back north and stopped at the State Line Café, where I bought a cup of coffee, before continuing my hike. I took the Long Path (blazed in blue) along the cliff edge. The first, easy part is along a woods road set well back from the cliff edge, but with short several side trails to picturesque overlooks. However, once past the Ski Trail E intersection, the trail becomes much more difficult. It hugs the cliff edge, and while edged by a wire barrier, is very exposed. The trail here was unbroken. I walked slowly and carefully along it, pounding each foot through the crust before advancing the other. One of my snowshoes came loose and skittered down the trail a few yards; I was lucky not to have lost it over the cliff edge. I checked the other one after putting it back on, to avoid repetitions. I passed several rock spires, narrow vertical columns of rock just beyond the cliff edge. The views here of the river are very nice, and there are a few spots whether one can see the face of the cliff, too.

I soon reached Eagle Rock, the local name for an overlook that commands a particularly good view of the river, especially to the north. I could see the Piermont Marsh and the soon-to-be-defunct Tappan Zee Bridge, beyond it. The snow on the rock was unbroken and smooth, right up to the edge. It is a pleasant rock for picnics during the summer and I have fond memories of it, but today I did not linger. The Long Path descends down a rough stone staircase just north of the overlook. I took only the safer sections, where a fall would not take me over the cliff edge, and bushwhacked through the woods to avoid the others.

The deep valley into which I was descending was full of pretty shadows. I soon reached the valley floor, where the Long Path swings westward towards the Lamont Campus. Before taking it, I bushwhacked east to another overlook on the cliff edge, which though smaller and lower than Eagle Rock, still provides another great northward view of the river.

The Long Path crosses the stream associated with Peanut Leap Falls via a footbridge. I did not detour to see the falls, which would by then have been in shadow, but instead took the main path back to Old Route 9W. I rejoined Dallas’ and my snowshoe trail and took it back to the Lamont Campus.

About three hours.