[Bill Menke’s Journal for August 13, 2010; Blauvelt State Park]. Blauvelt State Park is an undeveloped track of land on a part of the Palisades Ridge that is set back a half-mile westward from the Hudson River. The hamlet of Blauvelt is to its west and Grand View to the east. Dallas and I frequently hiked in this park back in the 1970’s when we lived in Blauvelt, but I recall visiting it only twice in the last twenty years.

Actually, I contracted Lyme disease after my last visit, which I guess was in the early 1990’s. It’s a common problem in southern New York. I’ll clean myself up well, when I get back.

I parked at the entrance on Greenbush Road in Blauvelt, NY. This is really just a parking area by a gated woods road. I took the road uphill, through fairly dense woods. It peters out in a half-mile or so, turning into a footpath. I passed a glacial erratic boulder, its white gneiss standing out from the basaltic boulders that originate from the Palisades bedrock. I also passed the rusty remains of a car, first its hood and chromed bumper, and then separately, its engine. The trail passes several open – but impassible – meadows, full of vines and bushes that are bordered by tall, vine-encrusted trees. Many of the trees in the park seem especially tall. It also passes several areas of bare bedrock where one can sit and get some sun.

The trail eventually connects with the Long Path. I take it north to the old World War rifle range, Camp Bluefields. This facility is now a ruin, but was once a substantial concrete structure, consisting of at least two W-shaped fortifications, each several hundred yards long. Some segments of the fortification are just concrete walls, but other segments are “tunnels” - fully-enclosed concrete walkways partially buried in the ground. A series of small one-room concrete buildings stand behind one side of the wall. These are empty but mostly intact, though decaying and with occasional small holes. One is overgrown with grape vines, sporting clusters of green grapes. Two of the tunnels can easily be entered. I explored them once during the 1970’s, but today just peer down them, standing in their entrances. One fortification has a tall, three-story section, complete with stairwell and archways. The steel stair case has completely rusted out.

After leaving the ruins, I bushwhack through the woods, heading south and west. I follow a little stream. Its bed is the bare rock of the Palisades. Very little water is flowing, though one deep pool has frogs and small fish. The stream may be following an old road. Some rock outcrops along the stream seem to me have been excavated in a way that is not natural. Later, I pass an open glade with exposed ledge. The rock has very distinct glacial scratches, which are very rare in the Palisades. I slowly make my westward, through a combination of bushwhacking and vague trails, while picking up rather too many scratches from thorn bushes. I reach Greenbush Rd near its intersection with Bradley Parkway. I walk Bradley Parkway and Route 303 back to the car, passing some nice patches of wildflowers – and butterflies - along its edge.

About two and a half hours.