Dutchess and Mt. Beacon trails 2/22/21

[JTG]

Dude, what are you waiting for?

Good question! I tend to be lazy at home, and I get so focused on other opportunities that I ignore low hanging fruit right in my back yard. Props for getting at it while the getting was...there.

Feeling very spring-y here today, snow is melting quick, birds are chirping.

If we haven’t seen the last of winter down here I’ll do better next time....

 

[Teledork]

I think we may need a Hudson River backcountry thread... You've peaked my interest to try more skiing and riding adjacent to the river. Also are you using a folding bike as a approach vehicle!?

Sign me up! Never knew about Dutchess, but always wondered what that rusted machinery was.

 

[JTG]

Doesn't have to be exclusive to winter. Maybe called it Hudson Highlands Adventures or...

I think I tried this in some form on the old site....but on TAY (out in the PNW) they have a “Partners Wanted” board. That could be useful here. Be it inbounds or a tour, if someone is headed out they could throw up a thread if they were looking for company. Just a thought....

 

[JTG]

Never knew about Dutchess, but always wondered what that rusted machinery was.

The machinery is the old incline/cog railway. It wasn’t part of the ski area. Just foundation at this point, but there also used to be a casino and hotel at the top of Mount Beacon. There have been various (half hearted) efforts to restore the cog railway but they have never gotten far. Plenty of info out there via search.

Restoring the Mount Beacon Incline Railway

Would the restoration of the Mount Beacon funicular be good for the region? It depends who you ask

hvmag.com

 

[Low Angle Life]

I think I tried this in some form on the old site....but on TAY (out in the PNW) they have a “Partners Wanted” board. That could be useful here. Be it inbounds or a tour, if someone is headed out they could throw up a thread if they were looking for company. Just a thought....

Speaking from experience, I know I'm too impulsive when snow starts flying. Generally so focused on getting out I don't even reach out to those in my phone contacts, I prefer riding with friends too. But when that itch needs to be scratched all bets are off.

 

[JTG]

Speaking from experience, I know I'm too impulsive when snow starts flying. Generally so focused on getting out I don't even reach out to those in my phone contacts, I prefer riding with friends too. But when that itch needs to be scratched all bets are off.

I hear ya, strike while the iron is hot. But even last minute you never know....throw up a quick post and if you are looking for company someone might join.

 

[Ripitz]

The machinery is the old incline/cog railway. It wasn’t part of the ski area. Just foundation at this point, but there also used to be a casino and hotel at the top of Mount Beacon. There have been various (half hearted) efforts to restore the cog railway but they have never gotten far. Plenty of info out there via search.

Restoring the Mount Beacon Incline Railway

Would the restoration of the Mount Beacon funicular be good for the region? It depends who you ask

hvmag.com

The incline railway must have been really something. The top of the ski lift and trails was not far from it.

I was originally very keen on the idea of rebuilding it. Before the Walkway over the Hudson and Beacon blew up, I thought it would be a great addition to the Valley. Now, I’m not so sure. The mountain is getting trashed. I don’t think bringing more people up is going to help. I skinned up the old ski trails but you can easily walk up the hiking trail. The hipster highway is so packed down you can walk up in tennis shoes. I’m sure a lot of them do. Of course it wouldn’t be Mt Beacon without some four wheeler tracks zig zagging everywhere. There were even frozen ATV tracks from some idiot who went down one of the old ski runs. When I got to the antennaes it was a plowed road. The gate at the bottom was closed for years. Ever since the Scarface house was built half way up the gate has been open. Now everyone and their mother with a Jeep is up there. The mountain has been trashed for years and the damage relatively isolated to the fire road, reservoir and casino. Now it’s creeping out. No one is policing it. Fishkill Ridge and surrounding trails are sensitive areas that are still relatively serene. I’ve actually had to stop myself from physically assaulting the assholes on dirt bikes going cross country through the woods. This area is now part of the NY park system. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Fahnestock managers who are on a shoe string budget. Without a massive effort of local Police, Rangers, volunteers and concerned citizens the landscape will unfortunately continue to suffer. I’m hoping it changes for the good.

 

[Harvey]

Some cool pics in this great piece by ML:

Hiking Beacon Mountain NY | NY Ski Blog

For years I've wanted to spend a day hiking Beacon Mountain NY but I always succumbed to the pull of other options in the Hudson Highlands.

nyskiblog.com

 

[JTG]

Doing Breakneck to Beacon is a great hike if you can leave a car on either end.

 

[JTG]

The incline railway must have been really something. The top of the ski lift and trails was not far from it.
View attachment 8322I was originally very keen on the idea of rebuilding it. Before the Walkway over the Hudson and Beacon blew up, I thought it would be a great addition to the Valley. Now, I’m not so sure. The mountain is getting trashed. I don’t think bringing more people up is going to help. I skinned up the old ski trails but you can easily walk up the hiking trail. The hipster highway is so packed down you can walk up in tennis shoes. I’m sure a lot of them do. Of course it wouldn’t be Mt Beacon without some four wheeler tracks zig zagging everywhere. There were even frozen ATV tracks from some idiot who went down one of the old ski runs. When I got to the antennaes it was a plowed road. The gate at the bottom was closed for years. Ever since Scarface built that dumb house half way up the gate has been open. Now everyone and their mother with a Jeep is up there. The mountain has been trashed for years and the damage relatively isolated to the fire road, reservoir and casino. Now it’s creeping out. No one is policing it. Fishkill Ridge and surrounding trails are sensitive areas that are still relatively serene. I’ve actually had to stop myself from physically assaulting the assholes on dirt bikes going cross country through the woods. This area is now part of the NY park system. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Fahnestock managers who are on a shoe string budget. Without a massive effort of local Police, Rangers, volunteers and concerned citizens the landscape will unfortunately continue to suffer. I’m hoping it changes for the good.

Agreed, restoration will never happen, and putting more people up there isn’t going to help anything. It’s already crowded and disrespected enough.

You haven’t truly experienced the hipster highway unless you are in Beacon on a second Saturday! Real estate in the city proper is just nuts. Small places, big bucks.....so long as it’s walking distance to the MNR.

I was wondering if you skinned up the old trails or if you started at the lot and used the usual hiking trail.