[Journal entry for September 26, 2009] Hike to Ship Rock. I parked at the Ramapo-Dunderburg (RD) trailhead on Route 106, and headed north into the Bald Rocks area. The day is sunny. The bare rock pavement of the hilltop is brightly lit. The scenery is incredibly beautiful, with patches of fall-red blueberry bushes, yellow-green fern, and glacial boulders and dead trees standing like sentinels. The view towards the hills to the west is also superb. I walk the RD to Bald Rock Shelter, a lean-to with walls made of enormous slabs of stone. I wonder where they came from and how they were brought to the sight. I detect no signs of quarrying nearby. A bit further on, the trail heads east and passes an enormous boulder, one side of which is overhanging, like the bow of a ship – hence, Ship Rock. After a few more bald hills, the trail descends into a valley. Many of the trees here are dead, just skeletons with meadows of fern beneath. They have been killed, as have most of the hemlock in the park, by the wolly adelgid, an insect pest. Shortly afterward, I reach Times Square, a major trail intersection. I take the Long Path southward, and connect with the Dunning Trail, which I take east. I stop to admire a beautiful wetland – complete with a beaver lodge. It is full of plants in fall-colors, including maple and blueberry. Continuing on, I meet a group of geologists, who are examining the Hogencamp mine. I chat with one, Alex Gates, who explains to me some of the local geology. Continuing on, I ascend once again into the Bald Rocks area, passing a large section of bare rock pavement that is strewn with glacial boulders that is called Bowling Rocks. A little while later I turn onto the RD again, at a point near the Bald Rocks Shelter, and take it back to Route 106 and my car. About three and a half hours.