The New York Ramblers, like several other local clubs, have an annual tradition of hiking to the Torrey Memorial in Harriman State Park. This year, I was leading the hike for the second year in a row, using a different route. We had scouted it two weeks ago, which is when I took the above photo at the memorial.*
The weather for the official hike was not so promising. The forecast for the day had been holding steady with torrential downpours, vacillating on whether there would also be lightning and wind. I contemplated cancelling but was reluctant. For one thing, the previous week's hike had been cancelled. For another, last year's hike had stopped short of the memorial and turned around due to thunderstorms. I didn't want the hike to fail again.
Still, I must admit that as I waited at Port Authority, part of me hoped no one would show up.
But, no - one hiker did. So we set off for Harriman on the bus that stops at Bear Mountain Inn before our stop, Fort Montgomery. Somehow, our driver managed to get lost on the way to Bear Mountain. Nevertheless we arrived, and faced only light rain to begin.
The plan, as it had been scouted, was to hike around Brooks Lake, through Popolopen Gorge, then take the most direct route to Torrey Memorial. From there we would keep heading west, joining the Long Path to a bus stop in Central Valley. Although only one trail passes over the memorial, there are several ways to get there (and several more that only make sense if you have a car).
Over the course of the morning, the rain only let up very briefly. We had trouble finding a spot for lunch; my original plan of eating on the open mountaintop was of course out of the question. But there really is no shelter anywhere along the route. So we scarfed a quick lunch down under a dryish tree before finishing the climb.
The above photo is of the memorial in the rain. We only lingered long enough to discuss what we should do. The second half of the hike was going to be much hillier, and wet leaves on wet rocks seemed like a recipe for danger. If we headed back, it would be easier and faster. I proposed turning around but instead following another trail through (although not up) Bear Mountain to the Inn. While I had never done it, it seemed straightforward enough. My fellow hiker agreed, so we set out.
Immediately the rain redoubled. I gave up on keeping my feet dry. I gave up on keeping my camera lens dry - there was nothing to dry it off with. Eventually, I gave up on calling it a "hike" altogether, repeating to myself like Dory, "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming."
We made it back to the Inn in time to change into dry shirts - I even had a hot chocolate - before catching the return bus. (Naturally, we had the same driver on the way back, and he asked us how much our fare was.) Both of us were glad that we'd be back to the city almost two hours earlier than planned, thanks to the route change.
If I lead this hike next year, I fully expect, like, a sharknado.
* I neglected to blog about it, it would seem.
