Rattlesnakes and Ridges: Schunemunk Mountain

We haven't hiked in a little while due to some medical issues so how about we travel back in time to June 28th? Shaaaall we?

We decided to hike Schunemunk Mountain in southern New York because we heard that it was quiet. We went in the middle of the week (Liam hadn't started summer school yet) so most places were bound to be quiet, but we didn't expect THIS level of quiet! We read up on it and chose to make a circle involving two ridges - both parts of Schunemunk Mountain itself. During the entire hike, we saw exactly one group - 3 people - and that was it! They said that we were the only ones they'd seen too! They came up a different way than we did.

But hiking stories are better told in photos so... onto the photos!

We started at a little parking lot by a field.

There were no other cars, but on our way back, there was one.

But nobody in the woods so maybe they were stopping for another reason.

Please excuse the smudge on my lens!

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In the woods, we saw a really long stone wall.

Liam marching ahead.

I like stone walls.

There are a lot around us from old Dutch settlements - boundary markers.

But this one looked in better shape so who knows when it was erected?

It wasn't a hot day out, but it was a VERY long slog up the mountain.

Lots of long switch-backing so we used little portable fans.

Silly little goose!

There was a huge fallen tree so we had to skirt around it and hop over 

a lower section. Liam was a little nervous - he isn't usually.

Jon helped him over.

Milton the Millipede!

As you may remember, all millipedes are named Milton.

That's just how they roll.

We brought orange Gatorade for me - I have issues regulating

my electrolytes on the trail when I sweat. I get dizzy and very bloated.

Liam loves Gatorade so I brought sugar-free for him

since, for him, sugar on hikes = crash. 

He loved the fact that it made his whole mouth red!

Gatorade is very, very serious business. 

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Can't let any Gatorade droplets go to waste!

Jon uses a hydration system on our hikes.

We use it for washing our hands/scrapes/cuts too.

I like how you can bite 

or squeeze the valve. 

Jon says it's very comfortable! 

If you want to check it out, go HERE.

Disclaimer: this is an affiliate link.

We love the product so that's why I'm recommending it,

but I'd be thrilled if you followed my link!

Thank you!

Looking quite cool.

The boy is crazy for Gatorade!

We took a break at the beginning point of the ridge.

And you know what he had to do while we took said break.

Ready to go! Liam loves ridge walking.

So do I actually.

The ridges were covered in dwarf pines which was a treat.

Ridge-walking.

Ridge-jumping!

I love this kind of terrain.

Showing off his neon red tongue.

Very nice, Liam! Now let's move along!

The view of the other side of Schunemunk.

There are two ridges on this hike and a hollow, low area in between.

At this point, we were on the first ridge looking at the second.

A close-up.

Just lovely scenery.

Come on, Mom!

Now who's dragging behind?

A hint of a smile.

And a hint of a view!

There was an ugly quarry to the left 

so I tried to cut that out of the photo.

This view was expansive, but it was a hazy day so everything looks blue.

Yes, there were man-made structures below (I'm a purist), but it was still impressive.

More Gatorade! 

Sporting a dapper red mustache.

It was really pretty up there.

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Sweeping views.

Waaay out in the distance, you can see the Catskills.

A little stick tent.

Too small for people to climb into, but neat!

Sweet Clover Junction Trail.

At this point, the trail went way down into a hollow.

This would be our last view until we got to the next ridge.

Looking out one last time.

We wouldn't return to this exact spot because we made a loop.

In the hollow, it was quite dark so my photos are a bit blurry.

Here Liam said, "Hey guys. Are we sure we want to do this?"
because the trail ascended steeply uphill.

Sure, why not? We've done worse!

This part!

This part is bigger in person than how it appears in the photo.

I had to climb up, turn around, and scoot on my butt, 

and my hands got scraped up.

I was a bit nervous! 

I didn't want to fall and break my ankle - AGAIN.

But we made it up there without incident.

As we climbed higher, there were a lot of ridges to scramble.

Liam did just fine with all of them!

He's got great boots. 

Me, on the other hand - well, mine are wearing out.

Looking back.

We "butted" it down this.

It's a testament to ADIDAS clothing that my shorts didn't split open at the seams.

More climbing! What fun!

And, no, I'm not being sarcastic. It really was fun!

At the top of the second ridge!

I was a bit wobbly because the edges went straight down.

Liam wasn't though!

Scoping the place out.

He looks so cool up there!

It was a hazy day.

I PROMISE you that the view over the Hudson was much nicer in person!

You believe me, don't you?

You can see the Hudson River way out in the distance.

Running amongst the dwarf pines.

Silly dude!

VERY silly dude.

But that's just the way I love him!

Looking back at the first ridge.

We were up there before! 

It's cool to think that we made it all the way from there to here.

Close-up.

Come on, Mom! You're taking forever!

Moving along without me!

Looking down the ridge at the view ahead.

Liam secretly likes being in my photos.

When I'm taking pictures of views, he pops right in.

Wait up, Liam!

The other people we came across told us 

they were gorging themselves on wild blueberries.

Us: We saw some, but weren't sure that they were safe to eat. We're not really foraging people.

Them: Well, we've been eating them ALL day! And we feel fine!

So we started picking blueberries and to my surprise, Liam LOVED them!

He delighted in picking them off the low-lying bushes and popping them right into his mouth.

Our first time foraging!

Scouting for blueberries.

After eating our fill, we descended into the hollow again.

At the bottom, I heard LOUD rattling!

The sound was unmistakable.

Liam was walking ahead so I screamed, "STOP!"

And he did. 

He didn't question why. 

He just stopped.

He saw a snake slither quickly into the bushes.

I'm positive that it was a timber rattler.

I read LATER that Schunemunk is FULL of them.

We like snakes, but we give them a wide berth - especially the venomous kind!

Here we are, crossing a small stream.

And then we climbed up a very rocky section.

It was quite imposing.

After we'd made it back to the first ridge, we started the long slog down the switchbacks.

During this part, we retraced our steps.

Liam ran ahead - a little too quickly - and stopped himself by grabbing a tree.

Unfortunately there was a spiny caterpillar on it!

Liam's hand swelled up and he cried a little. 

I tried to brush the spines off, but they were embedded, making him cry harder. 

We managed to pick them all off.

He was upset and said, "I want to spray it with water!"
but I told him that the caterpillar didn't mean any harm and he forgave it.

Then we noticed that the caterpillar was dead (due to him grabbing it accidentally)

and "bleeding." He felt SO guilty! He kept apologizing to it. 

I reassured him that he didn't mean to.

We said a little, "RIP Mr. Caterpillar" and kept going.

I felt sorry for the caterpillar, but I was happy to see Liam's compassion

shine through, even though at first his anger flared.

And that was our adventure at Schunemunk Mountain! Next time we'll try the southern end of it and make it to the Megaliths! 

Until next time,

Mary