http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=570680
once past west fork, it is a nice and steep road closed off from vehicles (and bikes, urhem). really nice views and solitude. the road up to crystal lake is in good shape, but after, it's another world! the fog set in, preventing me of scouting a certain peak...and the road starts getting covered in rockfall. little rocks, big rocks, you name it. there were a few snow covered parts but could walk around those. it kept getting foggier and colder and windier but I really wanted to get to Islip. Finally made it with fingers freezing like crazy.
I wonder how they thought the upper part of 39 would ever last. the thing is cut out from Mt Islip but there is no relief, so rockfall is constant. there was rock falling down while I was there! I think they would have to blow up Mt Islip if they wanted that road to ever work...