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Hiking through Manhattan
Three weeks ago, Carrie, my brother (Steven), and I headed to Manhattan's west side to climb the High Line, an elevated rail line above 10th
Avenue (mostly). The current High Line is a remnant of a much larger elevated freight rail system, and it has been out of use since 1980. The trackbed provides a glimpse of what New York would look like if it were abandoned and turned over to nature.
The High Line starts at 33d Street and 12th Avenue near the MTA's Hudson Yards and runs to Gansevoort Street and Washington Avenue in the Meatpacking District. I have wanted to walk the line for years and it was exactly as much fun as I thought it would be. I've posted our photos of the trip on Flickr. (This was my first trip to Flickr as well.)
threeThe easiest access to the High Line is by a truck trailer parking lot on 33d Street between 11th and 12th avenues. I didn't take a picture of the lot, but Bluejake did, so if you see this place walk in and head to the back. The track comes down to grade behind those trailers.
There is more commetary with the picture captions, but I want to put this warning here:
Walking the High Line is illegal. The track is the private property of CSX and climbing aboard is trespassing. The buildings along the High Line are also private property. There are multiple obstructions to get around and through - some objectively dangerous (including razor wire and precarious balance). It is a fun trip, but be careful.
Posted by Charles Star on 07/08/2005 | Permalink
Comments
Wasn't there some talk of coverting that into a park?
Posted by: Steve Lambert | Jul 8, 2005 4:12:06 PM
Yes, Steve, among other plans. There is an exhibit of design proposals at MOMA through October and Curbed has more about the proposals as well.
Which is another way of saying that time may be running out on seeing the High Line in its raw form.
Posted by: Charles Star | Jul 8, 2005 4:45:58 PM
The pictures on flckr are wonderful. They reminds me of an overgrown former rail yard I explored a couple of times circa 1990 that was just south of downtown Chicago (bounded by the river on the west, chinatown on the south, Roosevelt Rd on the north, Clark St. on the east). The area had been abandoned for about 15 or so years at that point. Graffiti artists regularly went into the area to tag the underside and supports of 18th st., which bridges the expanse. That bridge was known as the "wall of fame" and had some beautiful works of graffiti art. As for the surrounding vegetation, I'm no botanist, but it was probably a good example of native plants reasserting themselves in the old prarie. In the mid-90s, redevelopment started in that area from the south end, and now, even though there are still some empty patches, the graffiti is gone and the empty spaces have been cut down. But it was wonderful while it lasted.
Posted by: Mark | Jul 8, 2005 7:12:07 PM
Here's a direct link to some very interesting design ideas for the High Line. http://www.thehighline.org/design/prelim_design/index.htm
Posted by: Iggy | Jul 13, 2005 12:29:15 PM
Stunning pics. Great contrasts. Carrie is hot.
;-)
Posted by: Anne Onymoose | Jul 27, 2005 5:22:37 AM
In the third pic in this fascinating photo-essay, a possible reason the seed head of this "dandelion" is so huge ("fist-sized" like you say), may be that the plant here, rather than being common dandelion, may really be some other kind of wildflower--one that might actually be somewhat rare, or at least uncommon in most areas.
Instead of having broad-shaped and scalloped-edge, leaves like I would say "dandelions" have, the leaves of the one depicted look more grass-like and narrow, tough and pointy-- and light green or gray-green to light bluish-green, instead of, well, "dandelion green."
I believe it's the same plant as one I ran into up here in Massachusetts, a couple years ago (ran into it also along railroad tracks, by the way!).
Its flowers I believe will be found to be VERY distinctive--somewhat spidery in appearance with flowers broad somewhat daisy-like, each of the maybe eight or so petals tapering to a long needle-like spike.
In various outdoor hobbies, and also employment over the years (forestry, farming, landscaping, and horticulture), until seeing your photo, I had encountered this flower--whatever it is--just ONCE.
I would call its appearance most attractive, even "elite," whether in fact rare or not.
The scope of "what you run into" out in nature can be a somewhat random, YMMV kind of thing, I believe. I wouldn't be completely surprised if someone else's experience (such as they might perhaps report back here in answer to mine) might be that this plant is just "good old _______' see it everywhere). Hearing such a point of view wouldn't bother me, if it meant learning the identity of the "mystery one" here! Eric
Posted by: Eric | Jul 27, 2005 7:46:53 AM
A few years ago they discontinued the trains running near our house and it was fun to walk the tracks while they were still there. Although the stretch ran through residential area, the trees bordering it made some areas feel rural. The tracks are now gone but the path is still walkable, although it's not as much fun without the tracks to walk on.
Posted by: Writerpatrick | Jul 27, 2005 10:44:35 AM
Your mystery building is...
The General Theological Seminary (http://www.gts.edu/) -- it takes up an entire city block, from 21st to 20th and from 9th to 10th.
Posted by: Scott Matthews | Jul 27, 2005 11:12:55 AM
Another reason I need to visit NYC!
There's a similar rail line in Paris that I've done a little exploring on. e.g.: http://www.acme.com/jef/photos/02jul2004_paris/p1010096.html
Posted by: Jef Poskanzer | Jul 27, 2005 11:19:20 AM
If you like that, you might want to try the abandoned subway line under Riverside Park, a very spooky place. Been many years since I was down there, and I know there's been development at the huge 59th-72nd St yard, so I don't know if there's still easy access from the south. There are plenty of other accesses along the way, though. Highlight: enormous Mona Lisa graffiti covering entire wall near access point around 100th street, sometimes brilliantly visible in late afternoon when sunlight shines through the door on the west side of the tunnel.
Posted by: Mike Sierra | Jul 27, 2005 11:21:49 AM
one of my favorite sites is http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/ there are some wonderful pictures of abandoned victorian engineering/architecture there too.
Posted by: dave | Jul 27, 2005 11:47:57 AM
very cool!
next time you're in a well stocked bookstore, have a look at joel sternfeld's "walking the highline."
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/388243726X/qid=1122484461/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_ur_2_1/104-8146727-0992752
Posted by: joe | Jul 27, 2005 1:16:45 PM
I like this a lot!
I made a Google Earth container that links about half of your flickr images to their approximate position on the journey, as best i could tell. Each thumbnail images links back to your flickr gallery.
www.schuss.net/news/StayFreeNYCHighlineWalk.kmz
Hope that's ok, and someone else enjoys it. :)
Posted by: Brian | Jul 27, 2005 1:24:05 PM
Brian, i must say you have done a great job putting those pics on google earth.
It looks like such an adventure. Seeing the line on G-Earth really shows just how exciting it is. What a great secret garden in the middle of 2005 NYC!
I'll make sure i at least look up and remember this post when i'm next in NYC.
Posted by: nzruss | Jul 27, 2005 2:08:30 PM
For some useful context:
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=40.755888,-74.004089&spn=0.005721,0.010050&t=h&hl=en
The tour starts at the top of the big 'C' curve of track, comes out the
bottom and then follows 30th street to about midway between 11th and
10th. From there it goes more or less straight downtown to Gansevoort
Street.
Posted by: Matt | Jul 27, 2005 8:28:52 PM
I lived in NYC 1986-94, worked at the SE corner of 14th and washington just east of the high line. there used to be a staircase up to the highline (1st flight was removed, but it was easy to climb just the same) at little west 13th street - we would go up, sit on the train platforms and smoke out in the afternoon sun - it was one of the most private parks in NYC, right after the masoleum filled cemetary at 135th and west end. if you've ever seen the 'art of noise' video for 'close to the edit', the scene where they're using chainsaws on a piano was shot in one of the tunnels which cut thru the buildings, the one just north of 14th street, and the carcass of the piano was still there (probably still is). the barriers were not on the high line at this time, and a pal and I walked unobstructed from 14th north to the javits center where the high line goes underground, and where security guards from the javits center called us down and told us there were homeless living in the tunnels north of the center. the rails mentioned under riverside park in the previous post were also a BIG homeless colony at the time, and probably not very safe - used to see homeless entering and leaving thru the door mentioned in the post every time I was in that park. guilani may have had the homeless run out of those tunnels tho, like everywhere else in NYC. there were a couple of other abandoned/ interesting places to visit in NYC at the time, including a service tower to the brooklyn bridge which allowed access to the top of the east arches in the span (probably secured by now, and a bad idea after 9/11) and better yet the abandoned grain terminal in red hook, which is still there and is probably still being used by the locals as their private park - it's by the water in red hook next to a ballfield, near the carroll garden (???) stop on the F - be sure to take a camera
Posted by: stendhalismo | Jul 28, 2005 2:39:45 AM
very cool pics!
now i got another reason for going to the US! =)
... not that i needed one ...
Posted by: Pher | Jul 28, 2005 8:32:34 AM
