1777 Trail

The 1777 Trail, often associated with the pivotal moments of the American Revolutionary War, is a historic pathway that traces key locations and events surrounding this period. This trail encompasses various sites where significant battles occurred, reflecting the struggle for independence from British rule.

The 1777 Trail in Bear Mountain is a scenic hiking route that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Stretching approximately 2.5 miles, the trail is named after the year 1777, significant for its ties to the Revolutionary War. As hikers traverse the path, they are treated to a mix of challenging terrain and other compromised sections. The trail meanders through lush woodlands and rocky outcrops, providing opportunities to observe local wildlife and diverse vegetation.

Challenging terrain

In the past couple of years, areas in Rockland and Orange Counties have been hit with several devastating rain storms which severely eroded a good deal of this trail through the Bear Mountain area. Areas were deeply rutted, completely washed out and compromised in other ways as well. A small wooden bridge which crossed the normally placid Doodletown Brook was completely washed away. I times of drought, this is not a problem as you can easily cross over by stepping from rock to rock. With the rain and snow we’ve had recently, this is not possible today and getting through the heavily overgrown area was only possible by “bush whacking” through the invasive wisteria vines.

The falling snow begins to adorn an oak leaf which still clings to the branch.

We were hiking the trail today hoping to collect information on the wildlife as we conducted a biological survey for the Palisades Interstate Park Commission . Our efforts were minimized by the tough hiking conditions and the falling snow. The snow did make for a beautiful winter backdrop for our hike and did contribute some nice photogenic scenes. One sighting of interest was an immature bald eagle which flew overhead framed by the a tulip tree festooned with seed pods still clinging to the branches in spite of the snow and wind.

A immature American bald eagle framed by a tulip tree filled with its seed-pods. The falling snow is visible against the dark silhouette of the eagle. Nikon Z8 with Z100-400 lens @120mm, 1/1000 sec, f/6.3, ISO 320

David Baker

For over 30 years, my life was devoted to teaching High School , College, and Professional Development courses in the fields of Earth and Environmental Sciences. I hold 4 degrees including a Doctorate from Columbia University in Curriculum Development. Since my retirement, I have led field trips and workshops centered on two of my passions, nature and photography. This blog allows me to meld the two and facilitates my third passion which is educating folks about the natural world.

https://www.natdigital2025.com
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Stopping by for breakfast…