State Line Lookout

Date: Sunday, March 28, 2004
Time: 9:00 am
Start: 178th St. & Ft. Washington Av (GWB Terminal)
End: same
Distance: 33 miles
Terrain: hilly
Pace: moderate
Leaders: Jim Zisfein and Lee Ann Van Wyck

Cue sheet
Palisades Park info
Palisades Park map

Update 3/27/04:

The weather for ride day: "Sunshine along with some passing clouds. High 53F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph" - and no chance of rain. Sounds good to me! (Last time I tried this ride it was 2°F at ride time.) See you Sunday, 3/28, 9:00 am, at 178th St. & Ft. Washington Av.

Update 3/21/04:

I scouted the ride today. The Undercliff landslide on River Road is gone (1st photo below is from 12/03, 2nd is from today).

However, there is a new landslide, in Alpine, just south of the big climb to 9W.

This one also covers the width of the road, but is smaller than the previous landslide and can be portaged. We'll do a "bike bucket brigade" on ride day to get everyone across.

Then it's up the hill to 9W, and a few miles further we get to the state line and Lamont Observatory.

Hang a sharp right turn here, and find the closed (to cars) road to State Line Lookout.

If you find the lost dog, collect your "revard" of $1000 and make your trip worthwhile. Then do the nice climb.

The view is worth the climb.

Stop by the inn, have some lunch, buy a stuffed animal at the gift shop.

Now it's time to go home - and another upper body workout, portaging your bike once again over the Alpine landslide.

See you on Sunday, March 28!

Original ride description:

There's been a landslide in the Undercliff area blocking Henry Hudson Drive (a.k.a. "River Road") in New Jersey's Palisades Interstate Park. Will it still be there? Let's take a look, maybe some photos. If we can get past it, we continue on River Road to Alpine, otherwise we turn around and head up Dyckman Hill Rd. to join Palisade Av. In either case, the destination is State Line Lookout Inn, the highest point in the park, where we’ll have lunch. Bring lunch or $ for it, and an appetite for a healthy workout.

Questions? Email me at jzisfein@yahoo.com