It's a beautiful thing to drive along the parkway in New Jersey and see the trees changing color.
The leaves sparkled in the sunlight, and when I opened the window slightly, autumn seeped into the car.
As I crossed Bear Mountain Bridge and turned right, the Hudson River ran alongside me.
I reached the starting point of Anthony's Nose Trail, feeling like I was walking along the water's edge.
🌿 Courses and forest paths
This course had alternating uphill and downhill sections.
The road was wide and narrow, the shade was deep and the sunlight was strong.
It was a much less boring and more rhythmic course than the last course, which was just uphill all the time.
Even though it was fall, the weather was hot like summer.
Because it didn't rain, the water in the stream was all dry.
There was a place where a stepping stone bridge was built, but there was no water and only stones remained.
The flowers were in bloom, but the leaves were dry.
Purple chrysanthemums, yellow wildflowers, and red-tinged leaves were depicting the seasons in different colors.
As I was walking, I saw a gall on a tree, and I thought it was a beehive or a bird's nest, so I went closer.
But that was a gall the tree had created itself.
They say that there are no doctors in the mountains, so trees protect themselves by covering their wounds.
If you are bitten by a pest, infected by fungus, bacteria, or virus, or have a wound that causes the skin to peel off,
The inner cells surround the area and continue to produce new flesh.
Over time, the area will swell up like a lump and appear as a bump on the outside.
Sometimes it is a place where some insects have laid eggs, or it is a sign of a fungal invasion.
Trees strengthen their cell walls and multiply cells to block invading fungi.
In rare cases, a tumor may form due to abnormally active cell division without any external stimulus.
This kind of wood is called **Burl wood**.
It is said that because the wood grain pattern is unique, it is also used as a material for high-end furniture and decorative items.
Just like a person's scars, the tree's bumps seemed like traces of the years it had lived.
🪰 Bugs and Weather
I saw a ground bee on the way up.
They say that if you get bitten by a large wasp like a giant hornet, you could die.
I kept climbing up to see if there was a beehive somewhere underground.
You really have to be careful.
As I climbed to the top, the view was so spectacular that I wanted to shout “Yahoo!”
But at that moment, a lanternfly attached itself to his leg and neck.
“Eww!” There’s chaos everywhere.
Some people stirred it up, some just passed it by.
Why are there so many lanternflies at the top?
Maybe it was because it was hot, but bugs were sticking to my neck and face.
It was stuck to my arms and legs, so I was busy trying to get it off.
From now on, I must bring bug repellent and ointment when I go hiking.
Long sleeves, long pants, a hat, and sunscreen are essential.
It was 88 degrees and the sun was so strong that I was sweating profusely.
🌉 Normal and rest
When you reach the top, the Hudson River is on your left.
To the right, Bear Mountain Bridge was visible.
The view was so overwhelming that it made me forget all the mountain scenery I had climbed so far.
The sunlight sparkled on the river,
The waves swayed whenever the wind blew.
I looked at it for a long time because it was so pretty.
It was so hot on the way down that I sat down on a shady rock to rest and take a nap.
I slept soundly in the quiet mountains, surrounded by the sound of the wind and birds.
🕒 Finishing the hike
It took about 2.5 to 3 hours round trip.
It wasn't long, but there was a lot in it.
Ups and downs, shade and sun, and even bugs.
Come to think of it, this mountain is just like life.
Just as there are four seasons, this mountain also had joy and sorrow, flatness and ruggedness.
Just as good people and bad people coexist, there were creatures in the forest who lived in their own way.
In different environments, they can express their own voices, accept them, and
Sometimes we fight, compete, and get eliminated, and within that we find balance.
From afar, it looks like a peaceful and pretty forest, but up close, the flowers are withered due to lack of water.
Even bugs struggle to survive.
In the water, in the sky, in the forest, everyone was living so fiercely.
Things that were not in harmony eventually formed another harmony.
That's just how nature is, and maybe that's how life is too.
📍 Hiking Information
- location: Anthony's Nose Trail (U Bend Parking)
- Parking: Approximately 15 cars available
- Toilet: None (not within walking distance)
- Hiking time: approximately 2.5 to 3 hours
- Lanternfly: Plenty near the summit
- Weather: hot, dry, no water in the streams
- View: Hudson River & Bear Mountain Bridge
✨ One-line summary
- View: 🌉 The best! Hudson River at a glance
- Difficulty: 🥾 Moderate (short but steep sections)
- parking: 🚗 Narrow, can accommodate about 15 cars
- restroom: ❌ None
- tip: 🪰 Beware of bugs near the summit, long sleeves are required
📍 Recommended Preparations
Hat 🧢 / Water 💧 / Bug repellent 🦟 / Ointment / Light snack 🍫 / Camera 📷
