got rocks

The highest point in Manhattan and second-highest point in New York City (second only to Todt Hill in Staten Island) is on Bennett Avenue in Washington Heights. It's among the weirdest sites in Manhattan, too, because of the exposed cliffs, made of schist, that occur frequently in this part of the city. They are a legacy of the great glaciers that decended from the north during the last ice age and stopped at about the middle part of Long Island. Rock outcroppings that dot Manhattan and the Bronx are left over from the days when woolly mammoths and spear carrying Cro Magnons ruled the area.

What can legitimately be called the Mountain Of Manhattan rises between Bennett and Fort Washington Avenues aboveWest 187th Street, the southeast side of Fort Tryon Park, home of The Cloisters.

Bennett Avenue and Broadway

Ansel Adams wouldn't have felt out of place here.

One of the most unusual subway stations in NYC, the IND West 190th St. station, is entered through the Mountain of Manhattan.

Actually the term "subway" is a misnomer here, because the train is actually on street level at this point and is tunneled through the rock.

An ice closeup, or is it a nice closeup?

A look south along Bennett Avenue.

Bennett Avenue near West 181st Street

2/05: The storm was a week ago and he snow has had a chance to melt and refreeze again.

Scenes from Central Park

Fort George Park along Dyckman Street.

The Bronx features plenty of places where the ancient rock erupts to street level.

At right: a winter scene on Sedgwick Avenue and East 161 St at the Deegan.

Strang Avenue in the northern Bronx

Anything you'd like to comment on? E me at erpietri@earthlink.net.