Chatham

Visited a couple of nature preserves near Chatham, NY with Benny today. First stop was Borden's Pond. Did a clockwise loop on the perimeter trails (green, yellow and red). Snow on the trails was well packed down - almost like a sidewalk. Benny got to meet two other dogs.
Next stop was Ooms Conservation Area. Did a clockwise loop around Sutherland Pond - using the most of the green trail. Note: There is a connector trail which runs along Rock City Road that completes the loop which is not shown on the map.
Walked around 3 miles altogether on a very sunny, but cold winter day.

Chatham

Balfour mountain

Went for another hike in the central Adirondacks. I climbed Balfour mountain. On the drive up, I heard Bill Withers "Lovely Day" song on the radio - kind of apropos for the day I would have (weather wise). I parked on the shoulder of Route 28N near the public boat launch for Balfour Lake. Put on my snowshoes, and headed out. Dropped down to the shore, and then crossed the frozen, narrow lake. Got to the other side and then headed up to a viewpoint that I had programmed in my GPS. It was a steep climb which was made much more difficult by the deep, loose snow. The snow did not stick together at all, and just slid right off on the steeper parts. Each step forward felt like two steps back. I eventually reached the viewpoint. There was a metal sign fastened to a fallen tree which was the Cat in the Hat from the Dr. Seuss book - probably the oddest thing I have ever seen in the woods. There was also a hand painted sign nearby with the Serenity Prayer. I continued uphill to the southern summit and then to the northern one. I am not really sure which one is higher - they look about the same. I turned around and followed my track back. It was a bit easier on the return. This little mountain kicked my butt today. Lots of sun and not too cold (upper 20s). There was enough of a breeze that it had covered my tracks across the lake when I returned.

Summit Elevation:Balfour 2405 ft
Round-trip Distance: 2.5 mi
Elevation Change: 670 ft

Balfour mountain

Normanskill Preserve

Went for a short walk with Benny at Normanskill Preserve in Delmar. Parked at end of Normanskill Boulevard and followed the loop trail down to the creek and then back up. The snow was deep, but the trail was pretty well packed down by snowshoers. In open areas, the snow had drifted obscuring the trail. Saw one other dog and its owner on a cold, breezy winter day. About a mile walk.

Normanskill

Great Dune

Went for a short walk with Benny in the Albany Pine Bush. Parked at the end of Willow Street in Guilderland. Did a loop on the blue trail. We got about 12" of new snow this week. But, it was packed down on the trail by cross country skiers and snowshoers. Benny seems to enjoy the snow more than you would think a "southern" dog would. Walked 1.75 miles altogether. Saw quite a few other people out enjoy fun times in the snow on kind of blah winter day.

Reist Sanctuary

Benny and I have been getting a little stir crazy being cooped up inside all week. Benny took hump day literally and tried it with my couch pillow. Had to get out of the house today. So, went for some easy local hikes in Niskayuna. First, stopped at the Reist Sanctuary. I parked at the end of Morgan Ave. Did a counter-clockwise loop on the perimeter trails (yellow and blue). Snowy trails were nice and packed down from previous travellers.

Next, went over to Mohawk River State Park. Parked at the end of Whitmyer Drive (near the wastewater treatment plant). Took the trail over to Shaker Gorge and did a loop on those trails. I remember these trails from when I used to mountain bike back in the day. Dropped off the ridge and down to the bike path. Followed two riverside loop trails near the Mohawk River. Then, climbed back up the ridge and followed a different trail back to the poop plant. Had a nice sunny day for our treks. Walked over 3.5 miles altogether. A tired dog is a good dog!

Reist