[Journal Entry for March 9, 2010]. The weather has been sunny and warm all week. The snow is melting like crazy, but quite a bit still remains, especially in the hills. After work, I drove up to Harriman State Park, and parked at the lot on Route 6 just west of Long Mountain Circle. I donned my snowshoes and walked north along the Long Path, making for the summit of Long Mountain.

I like Long Mountain, for it conmmands an exceptionally good view of the surrounding area, one that includes both interesting lowlands, such as Turkey Hill Pond and the islands in it, and the Park's major Mountains, such as Bear, West, Black and Dunderberg. The walk up is fairly steep, but only takes twenty minutes or so. Today I took a little side trip, trying to find a vantage from which I could see Long Mountain. I walked along a little ridge to a clearing where the trees were fairly thin. It was the best view I could find, without climbing all the way down to Turket Hill Pond, which I judged too time consuming.

I then huffed up to the top of Long Mountain. The top is a long ridge, with the highest spont at the near (southern) end. About a foot and a half of snow remained at its summit. The daylight, at about 5:30 PM, was still strong and I could see the surrounding mountains very well. I was suprised to discover that the peak of neighboring Popolopen Torne is quite elongated. It seemed so spur like to me when I climbed it last summer. The view of Bear Mountain is wonderful. The Hudson River is not visible. I did find a vantage at the north end of Long Mountain where I could see the upper part of one of the towers of the Bear Mountain Bridge.

I took a slow walk along Long Mountain's ridge, examining snow formations, rocks, trees, moss and lichen. The Park boundary cuts across the mountain, with West Point on it northern side, so I went only a half mile or so. The sun ws close to setting by the time I returned to the summit. I stood around watching the lengthening shadows. The hills to the west are small and rolling. I do not know their names. The sun dipped down to them, lighting up some thin clouds nicely, and finally set behind them. I left soon thereafter, hurrying back along the trail in the waining light of evening. I did quite a bit of sliding on the downhill stretches, for my snowshoes did not grip the wet snow well.

About an hour and a half.