Long Path “Chain of Loops” Hikes - #11 - South Mountain NY to Cheesecote (Easy)
Details
Registration Required via AMC website
Full event details and registration are only available via the Appalachian Mountain Club website. Please do not RSVP via Meetup. If you do, Meetup will report that you are on the waiting list. Not so. Register at the AMC site to determine your status.
Series Overview: Hike just one or collect the whole set as we traverse the southernmost portions of the Long Path from its start in Washington Heights north to Harriman State Park - 11 hikes in all. Whenever practical these will be loop hikes - it’s about the journey, not the destination, right? Most segments are rated Easy or Moderate and are suitable for new hikers, and many will also be public transit-friendly. Long Path (one-way) distance previously hiked: 37.5 miles.
Hike #11: Join us for the final hike in the series (for now), as we bridge the gap between High Tor State Park and Harriman State Park. Spring has sprung, and let's hope the weather agrees with the calendar! We'll be gathering at the trailhead where Hi Tor State Park morphs into South Mountain County Park (41.19215 -74.00478). After shuttling cars to the end-point we'll follow the northernmost arm of the Palisades Ridge to a dramatic viewpoint. From there the ridge gradually descends into the earth near the intersection of SR 45, US 202, and Palisades Interstate Parkway (Exit 13). At that point we'll have to walk along roads for about a quarter-mile before re-entering the woods just west of the Parkway. In a bit less than a mile we'll cross into Cheesecote Mountain Town Park and start the day's second ascent. After passing Cheesecote Pond we'll descend to the Old Letchworth Village Cemetery and then, voila, we're done! In all, 43 miles of the Long Path traversed since we started the trek on the Manhattan side of the GWB back in October (dyed-in-the-wool through-hikers will probably scratch their heads in wonder).
Distance, Elevation Gain, and Difficulty: 5.4 miles, 805 ft. elevation gain, a somewhat challenging Easy
****For complete details and to register: https://activities.outdoors.org/s/oc-activity/a5UVX0000014HzN/act00019904