Bronx County Highpoint Trip Report
Date: July 17, 2008
Author: Roy Wallen
Following John Mitchler’s report from 2007, I also left from Columbus Circle and
took the 1 train, changing trains at one point due to “mechanical difficulty”,
to the end at Van Cortlandt Park. This was at 5:00 pm on a Friday due to a
cancelled dinner meeting.
The walk up through Manhattan College and the Historic Fieldston District was a
pleasant one, though the temperature and humidity were quite high on this summer
evening. Following John’s directions and the topo, I made my way to the gap in
the fence where Goodrige Avenue approaches the highpoint development. There are
a few feet of heavy undergrowth between the end of the street and the fence but
it is a short bushwhack. Once through the fence, I followed a gravel and dirt
road up and to the left toward high ground. There is much earth movement still
going on there and a couple of houses in various states of construction.
I worked my way from one rock pile to another.
Once approaching what I think is the highest ground, I heard a muffled “HEY!”
Looking down the unfinished road, a young man approached in a bright green vest
that said “SECURITY”. Wishing to invoke one of Fred’s Rules, I scrambled up to
the highest spot and looked at the view, believing that if I got shooed off
after getting there, the ascent would still count. As the man approached,
he said that this was private property and that I shouldn’t be there. I asked if I
could take a couple of pictures and he said I could. I proceeded to do so and
he then escorted me down toward the main gate at Grosvenor Avenue. He said that
I could get him in trouble for being there, of which I assured him was not my desire.
We chatted a bit while we walked out to the gate and he said visiting
during the day (it was about 7:00 pm by this time) would not be a problem.
Once at the gate at Grosvenor Avenue, I returned the way I came.