[Journal Entry for April 3, 2011; Pitching Point Overlook] In the mid-afternoon, Dallas and I parked along Storm King Highway (Route 218), at a pullout along the steep flank of Storm King Mountain. We took a trail, blazed in blue, that ascended the southern part of the mountain, to an overlook that is labeled Pitching Point on our hiking map. The easily-recognizable rounded summit of Storm King Mountain is to the north, separated from our section of the mountain by a deep cleft.

Just as we left the road, we passed a large boulder engraved with a memorial to James Stillman, whose son, Ernest, donated the land. We first ascended a steep trail trough woods. We passed several rivulets, running straight down the hill, each in a trough or ditch. We suspected that they were earlier version of teh hiking trail, now eroded by the water. We connected with an old woods road that followed a contour, heading south. It led to an overlook set on the edge of a southward facing scarp, one of the many glacially-plucked cliffs in the Hudson Highland. The view here was pretty good, but we continued up a steep foot trail to a broader overlook where it was much better. The afternoon, being sunny and in the 40's Fahrenheit, was quite busy. Several groups of people passed us.

The view to the north is quite pretty. On our side of the Hudson River is the massif of Storm King Mountain, punctuated on its south side by a steep cliff face. Two prominent hill are on the far (east) side of the river, Breakneck Ridge, and south of it, Bull Hill. They are part of Hudson Highland State Park. Two train lines run along the shores of the river, one on each side. The eastern track enters a tunnel as it wraps around Bull Hill. Pollepel Island sit mid-River. It hosts the ruins of Bannerman Castle, an abandonded military surplus warehouse now gone to ruin. In the distance beyond the island is the Newburg-Beacon Bridge, and, on the horizon, the dim silhouettes of the Catskill Mountains.

We stayed at the overlook for a half hour or so, enjoying the view. A few turkey vultures soared overhead, but little wildlife seemed to be around. The woods are not yet showing many signs of spring, though the fern and moss that survived the winter are looking green. We then walked back along the same trail as we ascended. The area is very rocky, with lots of boulders on the ground. Most of these are bare, but we passed one covered with moss. Upon examination, it proved to be made of limestone, an glacial eratic boulder. It must have origianlly been quite large, but had crumbled into several small, but still substantial, fragments over the years.

About an hour and a half.