[Journal Entry for November 11, 2018; Black Rock Mountain, Black Rock Forest, Cornwall New York] I parked at the Hiker’s Lot off of Reservoir Road, on the mid-afternoon of a clear and cold day. Icicles, dripping water, were hanging from rock outcrops, indicating that last night’s freezing temperatures had warmed a bit. I was surprised at the large number of Witch Hazel bushes, with their lime-green tassels of flowers, were blooming along the roadside. I had, of course, passed these shrubs on numerous summertime hikes, but I had not notices them, for their leaves can easily be mistaken for those of a Beech. They stood out today, since most of the canopy was bare and the sun was lighting their blossoms. As I passed the overlook by the turn in the road, I could see that most of the trees on Black Rock Mountain were bare, except for the White Oaks, which still had their yellow-green fall foliage.

I unexpectedly met Shahid Naeem, a Columbia University ecologist, as I passed the Science Center. I knew from Earth Institute meetings, but had not seen him for years. We chatted for a few minutes about old times.

I took the Honey Hill Trail (blazed in white) up onto Honey Hill. The flank of Black Rock Mountain that faces the overlook was already in shade. The trail descends down to Aleck Meadow Reservoir. While the surrounding trees are mostly bare, some late fall flowers (and especially purple Roadside Aster) were still blooming. Others, like Goldenrod, had gone to seed completely. A few Barberry Bushes still had burnt-red leaves, but most were reduced to thin stems supporting rows of bright red berries.

I took the Stillman Trail (blazed in yellow) uphill from the reservoir, which passed close to White Oak Road (a woods road), before it turns and climbs up the wooded flank of Black Rock Mountain to its bare summit. “Black Rock” is a misnomer, for the rock is the same tan Highland gneiss as is found on the other hills in the Forest. The sparse vegetation includes Blueberry Bushes and Scrub Oak Trees, now mostly devoid of leaves, and Pitch Pine. The view to the north is unobstructed and very beautiful, and includes the low, level land north of the Hudson Highlands, a wide section of the Hudson River adjacent to Newburg New York, and way in the distance, Shawangunk Ridge and the Catskill Mountains behind it. Using my camera’s telephoto lens, I could barely make out the tower of Mohonk House, built atop of Shawangunk Ridge, about twenty miles away. A Red-tailed Hawk flew by, below me.

I poked around the summit, finding a second east-facing overlook. While a bit overgrown, it provides an excellent view of the eastern part of the Hudson Highlands. I could see Storm King and Crow’s Nest mountains on my side of the river, and though partially obstructed by those hills, Mt Beacon, Breakneck Ridge and Mt Taurus on the far side. Upper Reservior is visible nestled below Crow’s Nest; I had not realized until now how steadily the land falls off from its summit down to the reservoir.

I back-tracked on the Stillman Trail and cut over to White Oak Road. The Sphagnum Marsh outflow stream flows along this road, and after crossing it, flows into the woods and emptys into Aleck Meadow Reservoir. For some months, I had been thinking that I should try to find to find the entry point, for I was hoping that it would be free of bushes and provide a good view of the reservoir. So I walked down White Oak Road for a hundred yards and then bushwhacked through the woods to the entry point, which was easy to see, now that the leaves had thinned. It does indeed provide a nice view of the reservoir and of Mt Misery and Hill of Pines, beyond it. The reservoir was already in shadow when I arrived, but the hills had crowns of light.

I retraced my path to White Oak Road and took it to Upper Reservoir. Just a little sunlight lit up the summit Crow’s Nest. I connected with Reservoir Road and took it back to my car.

About two hours and fifteen minutes.