CLIMATE & WEATHER Temperature The average temperature at Bear Mountain (taken at an elevation of 290 feet) is 48 degrees. The average high and low is 56 and 40 degrees respectively. At an elevation of approximately 1,300 feet, actual trail temperatures can estimated by subtracting 3.5° for every 1000 foot increase in elevation. Rainfall The average monthly rainfall is 3.75 inches. The wettest months (daily precipitation recorded) are January, March, and July. The driest months are September through November. Snowfall Snowfall varies widely in the area and along the Appalachian Trail. The Bear Mountain Bridge experiences an average of 35 inches of snowfall per year while the summit experiences 55 inches per year. This is because the Hudson River’s warm water takes longer to cool and shortens the snowfall season at the base of the mountain. The peak snowfall occurs from December through February. Fog Regular fog is caused by warm air masses arriving from the south and passing over the much cooler Hudson River. The fog generated moves across the flats of Iona Island and becomes trapped between Bear Mountain, Dunderberg Mountain, and West Mountain. Located in the southern portion of the Hudson River Valley, Bear Mountain’s varied climate is most influenced by: • The Hudson River which moderates the air temperature Wind year-round Winter winds funnel through a gap in the mountains to the north and west. In the winter the north-facing slope is cold and shady, with some parts almost impassible in the • The Palisades and Taconic Mountains which shelter the winter due to the constant presence of ice on the erratic rock formations. area Summer breezes flow to the north, across the flats of Iona Island, and up the southerly side of the mountain. This air-flow raises the humidity in the summer, fall and spring. Bear Mountain’s climate affects its seasonal usability: • Fall color peaks in mid-October inviting large crowds. • Users return in December to ski, sled and ice skate. Sun Exposure • Rains subside in May, opening the heavy picnic season Much of the Appalachian Trail in Bear Mountain enjoys a southerly aspect. Because of this exposure there is less ice build-up in the winter; the temperature is slightly warmer; there is more through August. sun. Hikers along the trail from the museum to the old ski jump are generally protected from the • Thru-hikers potentially use the Appalachian Trail through wind. all weather conditions.

EXPLORING THE A.T. AT BEAR MOUNTAIN

COOK COLLEGE, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY INFORMATION CHARETTE Stefanie Almodovar Tyler Clark Nicholas Ginther Joseph LaCava Vlad Moskovski Daniel Sgrizzi Alison Beeghly Michael Coraggio Galia Hanoch-Roe Nicholas Laub Daniel P. Nichols Alec Shissias Jason Berks Michael Dwyer Elizabeth Hendrickson Steve LeMoine Andrew O’Toole Nathan Tuno John Carluccio Chuck Gandy Paul Johnson Zainab Miller James Phillips Lauren Weitz DEPARTMENT OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE NOVEMBER 2004 Benjamin Cassidy Olivier Giron Sara Krouskop James Morren Tara Piergies