BUTTER HILL RESET (LY2493)
State: NY
County: Orange
Quad: Cornwall
Location: N 41° 25.627' W074° 00.078'
Elevation: 1381 ft.
Designation: BUTTER HILL RESET 1933
Setting: Rock Ledge
Type: Triangulation Station
Year: 1933
Established By: NGS
Recovered: 17 August 2005
Our trip to Storm King was the second in our late-Summer series of day trips to the Hudson Valley region. The orange/yellow trail climbs very steeply from near the parking area on Route 9W, and it took us to a rock ledge overlooking the highway. From there we headed steeply upward again and soon came across three stone pillars and part of a granite foundation—ruins of Spy Rock House, according to our hike description. What a place for a Summer home!
Our next stop was the summit of Butter Hill. I was unprepared for the sight. The 360° views make this a perfect spot for a triangulation station, and just a very inspirational place overall. We recovered the station and both reference marks with ease, took our time photographing the marks and the scenery, and then looked for the nearby geocache "Butter Hill South".
A report on the condition of the station mark and reference marks 1 and 2 was submitted to NGS, along with the following recovery note:
The station mark and reference marks 1 and 2 were recovered in fair condition as previously described. Route 9W is now divided and the parking area cannot be accessed from the eastbound lanes. The trail is now marked with orange blazes.
Zhanna
NGS Official Description, 1933 (see datasheet for recent updates) :
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1933 (CAE) STATION RECOVERED IN GOOD CONDITION. A NEW DESCRIPTION ACCOMPANIES THE RECORDS. TO REACH STATION -- IN CORNWALL ON HUDSON TURN OFF ON MOUNTAIN ROAD (ACROSS FROM STATION OIL FILLING STATION) OLD WEST POINT ROAD. GO UP ABOUT 1-1/4 MILES. ON LEFT OF ROAD COME TO GATEWAY, ENTRANCE ABOUT 1/4 MILE FROM STORM KING SCHOOL, WITH TWO LARGE ROCK PILLARS ONE ON EACH SIDE, STORM KING PARK ON EACH PILLAR. GO IN, ROAD DIVIDES, TAKE LEFT FORK. CONTINUE UP TO BIG HOUSE. ESTATE OWNED BY MR. RUDOLPH PAGENSTECHER, OFFICE 122 E FORTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK CITY. TAKE TRAIL TO RIGHT OF HOUSE FACING ENTRANCE. (1) WHEN SMALL BRIDGE ABOVE CONCRETE SWIMMING POOL IS REACHED TURN SHARP RIGHT UPSIDE OF HILL. GO UP ABOUT 1/2 MILE, TRAIL, DIVIDES NEAR THE TOP. TAKE RIGHT-HAND FORK WHICH LEADS TO TOP OF BUTTER HILL. TRAIL VERY STEEP. 15 MINUTES REQUIRED FOR DESCENT. (2) CONTINUE ON OVER SMALL BRIDGE ABOVE SWIMMING POOL. TRAIL LEADS ON UP TO STORM KING MOUNTAIN. FOLLOW TRAIL ON RIDGE LEADING TOWARDS THE W 1/2 MILE. LEADS TO BUTTER HILL. DISTANCE FROM HOUSE, 2-2-1/2 MILES. TRAIL MORE GRADUAL. ALL MARKS ARE STANDARD DISKS, SET IN DRILL HOLES. STAMPED BUTTER HILL 1880, REFERENCE MARKS ALSO STAMPED 1 AND 2.
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...NGS Triangulation Station BUTTER HILL RESETN 41° 25.627' W074° 00.078' |
...Eyelevel view of station mark disk. |
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...Looking approximately N. |
...Looking approximately S. |
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...NGS Reference Mark Disk BUTTER HILL RESET RM 1N 41° 25.630' W74° 00.073' |
...Eyelevel view of reference mark disk. |
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...View ENE toward the station, which Rich indicates. |
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...NGS Reference Mark Disk BUTTER HILL RESET RM 1N 41° 25.630' W74° 00.073' |
...Eyelevel view of reference mark disk. |
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...Looking NE toward Fishkill. |
...View WNW toward the station, which Rich indicates. |
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