Winter Hike on the Palisades
by Bob Rancan

Saturday, January 22, 2022

We had a nice sunny day hike today atop the Palisades, from the Park's Alpine Headquarters to the 1929 Womens' Federation Monument and back.

The temperature stayed in the 20's but the predicted wind-chill wasn't really a factor...as they say, wasn't bad in the sun. A very light dusting of snow remained and the low, wet spots on the trail were solid ice but posed no trouble.

A side trail where no one had been before us revealed a set of prints of probably a red fox or maybe a coyote who had taken the path of least resistance right down the center of the cleared path. A narrow stream was still flowing and as it dropped over the cliff, it left a beautiful column of ice. The woods were pretty quiet but we did have several woodpeckers (downy and red-bellied) and on the way back we spotted a mature bald eagle winging north just below us.

We totaled about 5 miles and there were no slips and falls. All in all, a perfect day. Thanks Dave, Phil, Sumonnat, Al, Dean, Kathleen and Janet for not watching the weather forecast.

Bob