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Walked on Pine Meadow Lake
January 24, 2009

There were only 2 more days before the Year of Ox. Moon designed a stamp with heavy element of Chinese New Year. Due to whatever reasons that stopped most of our fellow hikers, only Moon, Ping and I could have a copy of it.

It was likely my 25th time of visiting Pine Meadow Lake but never in such a deep winter time. Moon came for a couple of times and it was Ping’s first visit to this pretty lake. The trail was icy but not too slippery because we all had stabilizers and those few inches of new snow on the surface. We planned to reach the Lake by Kakiat and Black Trail and came back all the way followed Pine Meadow Red Trail. The parking lot was so full when we started at 9:30 am.

The Pine Meadow Brook was one of most beautiful streams in Harriman Park. I used to see family groups hiked in and out and spent time by the stream. I saw only icebergs formed around the running water. As the stream was narrowed down by ice formation, the running water was even rougher than summer time. We were not alone in the mountain. We met 5-6 hiking groups before hitting the lake at noon.

The 1.5 miles on Red Trail was not steep which was good for warming up. After crossing 2 bridges, we switched into White Kakiat which was much steeper. The snow covered big rocks next to the trail were pretty. After hiked 1 mile on White Trail, we switched to the Black Trail in order to visit 2 viewpoints. Ping learned how to match the trail with the map at this junction. The Black Trail was steep with ice. We had to climb up some stones. Our group picture was taken here by the help of a Korean lady hiker. There was a ladder installed at a really steep and dangerous site to help hikers. We reached the viewpoint after climbing the ladder, the whole area was beneath us.

We reached the lake after hiked on Yellow Trail which was liked sunny side fried egg. We took lunch at a location next to the lake. After seeing a lot of hikers walking on the Lake, we could not resist the temptation of walking on frozen water. We took a lot of great pictures on the lake but Moon was really scared about the safety so dared not go too far. The wind was sometimes strong so it was not easy to stay still outside for long. We wrapped up and started the final 2.5 miles on Red Trail. It was mainly downhill slopes along the Pine Meadow Brook and Stony Brook. The special ice formations along the stream attracted our eyes and made the trip less boring. We finished 6 miles and reached the parking lot by 2 pm.

When Coral Reef was found in the mountain
January 11, 2009

Winter hike was a difficult but compulsory chapter for a serious hiker. It was more risky to hike on icy trail but it was manageable with the help of hiking aids and tools. In return, what the ice and snow sceneries we saw today would never be forgot. It was my first sight to find the Coral Reef in the mountain in my 15 years of hiking career.

We had 15 hikers joined this trip without any new names. That included Moon, Rose, Yat, Eric, Feng Chen, Emily, Ken, Warren, Janet, Esther, Ping Kwok, Danny and Daniel. Sunny presented at the meeting place surprised me and he gave me a bigger surprised later when he could keep hiking to the end with a hurt and painful wrist. He was hurt because of over-confidence but also undoubtedly a tough hiker.

We started at 10:30am after warming up exercise and prizes given ceremony at Tiorati Picnic Area. As I found there were extensive of ice under the 5 inches of new snow in this area, I turned back to get stabilizers after hiking 3 minutes. The group kept going to finish the Blue Trail and met me at the R-D Red Trail. The icy trail condition made those who had brought stabilizers to put them right away. Photographers were busy because we found the first white ice wrapped vegetation at this spot. The sceneries on R-D made our eyes and mouths opened wide because it was so pure white. It was an all white colored fairyland which included the trail, stones, branches and vegetations. It was amazing to see the white ice was wrapping every branch. It really looked like the Coral Reef without submerged under water. How the nature could so evenly spray white paint to the entire area! Ken lied down on snow in order to capture a few shots for icy vegetations. It took us an hour to finish this mile because of photo taking and icy trail condition. Sunny fell by stepping on a slippery rock at this portion but insisted to keep on hiking with the group. Ken played 3 times on a nature-made icy slide. Janet and Esther hiked extra care at the back with the help from Eric and Yat. Rose, Feng and Ken could not stop taking photos for the nature and hiking friends. Moon and Warren enjoyed hiking at the front. Danny felt sorry of forgot to bring his camera but happy that could hike with his son, Daniel.

We turned into AT and I brought the group to hike on an unmarked trail in order to catch up the time to reach the Fingerboard Shelter for lunch. The nature-made slide on AT was fun. I saw smoke coming out from the shelter from a distance. A Korean hiking group shared the shelter and campfire with us so we could warm up the frozen hands. Warren accidentally pushed down my hot tea bottle so he said his butt was boiled by some hot water flowing under him. As another Korean group was waiting, we didn’t stay too long in the shelter. We resumed hiking the remaining 1.5 miles on Long Path aiming at the Ice Cave which was closed to Arden Valley Road. Long Path was comparatively flatter than R-D so gave them a safe and quiet break time. When the sun showed up at that minute, we took the group picture in front of a pretty valley which was covered by snow. The group picture was done easily with the support of Rose’s tripod.

We walked on Arden Valley Road to visit Ice Cave. Here kicked in the sunshine and made the icy branches sparkling. The vegetation was liked artworks made of glass. There was a challenging steep uphill slope before we could reach the Ice Cave. The last 5 feet was so steep and icy that created exciting moments and tests upon hikers. The pretty Ice Cave paid back the adventure taken. Due to the latest snow storm that brought in enough snow and thus provided enough water to form such a huge ice feature. We stayed long enough to take photos. As the team was exciting and could not forget the fun of playing slide, half group of our hikers played slide on the steep slope which they climbed up from. It was a trip with so rich fulfillment. We played slides, enjoyed good views, took photos, did tough exercises and chatted with friends. We finished totally 5 miles before 3:15pm which was good enough for a hike on winter icy trail.

Hiker with a Tie
January 4, 2009

The switching of this hike from Saturday into Sunday provided us a better hiking weather. The wind was softer and sunshine was richer. The most important was so I could have a bigger team which included my first see to a hiking friend with a tie. I had Moon, Rose, Yat, Joe and Tom joined for this first hike of 2009.

We met on 9:30 am on time and started the hike on 1777W. We saw a pretty completely frozen waterfall at this portion which attracted both Rose and Joe so much because they never saw this feature in the mountain. The 1777W was covered by 2 inches of new snow. It was safe and pretty. We entered Doddletown after crossing the foot bridge. Joe was interested to read the information bulletin to learn the history of Doodletown during American Revolution. We walked closed to the dam of Doddletown Reservoir to see the pretty sunshine reflections on the lines of running water. As time was enough, I brought the group to walk 200 feet more to view a waterfall. The noise of water was getting louder and louder which meant the water was not completely frozen. We saw a 30 feet waterfall with some icy features. In order to get some better shots, Joe climbed down the icy stones to get closer to the fall. To protect myself from getting injury and also to make sure I wouldn’t ruin this hiking trip, I just stood at the upslope and watched Joe until he climbed back safely.

The trail was a little bit icy on the portion before we reached Bear Mountain Recreation Area. I decided to take lunch here at noon because we could have shelter against cold wind and restrooms facilities. Joe first saw the indoor merry-go-round and Yat first found the ice rink in the Park. We finished simple lunch within 30 minutes and targeted the Perkins Tower which was located after climbing 1.5 miles uphill slope on AT. I saw Joe’s hiking gear was different from most of us. He dressed up liked he would go for big dinner after the hike. He wore shirt, pants and even with a tie. He said a tie was multi-functional in hiking. It made him looked nice and could serve as a scarf, belt or rope when necessary.

The all the way climbing towards Perkins Tower defeated Rose and Yat. Rose fell to the back and Yat claimed his lung was going to explode after the tough exercise. It left only Moon and I could keep the pace at the front. We reached the summit at 2 pm which I was surprised to see only 1 other small group of visitors. We took group picture in front of the Tower and Yat performed a hanging bed posting between two wooden blocks. Tom was an experienced hiker so explained to Joe about the importance of colorful jacket during hiking. It could be found easily when emergency and it could be safer when hiking at hunting season.

We were only 2 miles from the parking lot if we went down the Bear Mountain from other part of AT. There was a 3 levels ice-fall formed at a huge rock surface adjacent to the auto road. Moon could not leave that spot without taking a picture with it. She then led the hike at the front all the way back to the car. We finished 7 miles at 3 pm.

Christmas Tree at the Shelter
December 28, 2008
 

This hiking fell on an after Christmas weekend. Most hiking pals were likely busy with the holiday activities so we had only 3 hikers today. I had prepared a rich program for today including first visit to Ice Cave of this winter. In addition with the surprised treat at the Shelter, this extended the celebration period of Christmas among Moon, Rose and I.
 

We were just on time to see a group of about 25 hikers leaving Tiorati Picnic Area when we reached there by 9:45 am or I might think we three were the only hikers of this area today. We didn’t meet any other hikers in coming 4 hours which was never happened in my 14 years of hiking experience. As Ice Cave was the main reason of this trip, I decided to bring the group to the Ice Cave before the hike. After climbing the steep slope, I was excited to find the Cave was foggy. But, even the snow was deep at the entrance; most icebergs were melted or fell. It was Rose’s first visit to Ice Cave so she was excited to take a photo with an ice trophy. We didn’t see an ice cave today but only a freezer because it was extremely cold standing there.
 

We got back to the Arden Valley Road and began the hike by entering Long Path. The foggy condition on snowy hillside made it liked we were in a fairyland. But, I supposed no camera except our eyes could capture that image. There were a lot of flooded areas on Long Path so I asked Rose if she preferred to hike on deep snow or puddles. She said she could not decide at this moment and hoped to have a third choice. I didn’t ask her any other questions after that or she might reply only with the presence of her lawyer.
 

We hit an unmarked trail on Long Path which was a short cut to AT. As the weather forecasted rain after 2 pm, I decided to take this route so we could take lunch at Fingerboard Mtn. Shelter before 12:30 pm. The unmarked trail was full of snow which was pretty. Moon liked the photo most which was taken at this spot. The climbing upslope on AT was tough but not enough to defeat us. We reached the Shelter and really surprised to see the treat.
 

There was a real 5 feet tall Christmas tree standing at the Shelter with candies and decorations. I guessed someone had been or would have a Christmas party at the Shelter. Since it was already 1 pm on Sunday, I guessed the party was over. What a romantic moment if someone had prepared a surprised party at the mountain for you. It reminded me when Nature You prepared a surprised birthday party at Johnstontown Circle for Kwok Ng last year.
 

We took the treat by taking photos with the Christmas tree. These photos would be so unique because we might not be able to meet again in the future. The lunch was not rushed because the shelter had given us enough protection against strong wind. The sky was getting darker after lunch so we hiked in a faster pace on R-D to make sure we could finish the 6 miles course before 2 pm. Since the trail condition was neither snowy nor icy, 6 miles on regular trail was too easy for all of us. I would definitely add the mileage if there was no warning of rain in the afternoon.