Moose

I climbed Moose mountain in the southern Adirondacks today. This peak is in the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest (near Georgia and Harrington mountains). I parked on NY Route 8  and started out on the path to Little Joe pond. After 5 minutes, I turned right onto the Moose mountain snowmobile trail. Followed that for about a mile to the notch. From there, I headed off trail and up to the eastern (and highest) peak. After tagging the top, I found views from some rock slides just south of the top. I headed back to the notch and then climbed the western peak (and lower by just a few feet). I descended the southern side which had nice views from some burned over areas. Eventually, I reached a notch and followed the drainage back down to the highway. From there, it was a mile walk back to the car.

Summit Elevation: Moose 2560 ft
Round-trip Distance: 4.5 mi
Elevation Change: 1100 ft

Next, I drove up the road and parked at another pull-off on Route 8. I followed the unmarked fisherman's path that leads to Eagle pond. I lost it at a point past the beaver pond. So, I  just bushwhacked from there about 1/4 mile to the cliffs on a ridge of Harrington mountain. After enjoying the views, I descended and was able to pick up the path again near the beaver pond. Nice warm, sunny day for a trek in the woods.

Round-trip Distance: 2.0 mi
Elevation Change: 660 ft

Moose

Bearpen, Long Tom Ridge

Went for a short hike in the Southern Adirondacks today (Wilcox Lake Wild Forest). I parked on Stony Creek road at a pull-out, about a mile from Wolf Pond road. The continuing road was muddy and rough - even patches of snow in places, so I walked about a mile to the height of the land. Then, I started my bushwhack by heading north into the woods. Dropped down to a creek and it was a short climb to the top of Bearpen. Checked out the views to the south from some ledges. There was a fire pit at the summit. Continued NW toward Long Tom ridge. Encountered some snow as I descended the north side. Reached the ridge east of the SW knob. I then continued climbing up the ridge to the SW peak and then down to some ledges with great views to the west. From there, headed SE back to the road. Nice cool, breezy day.

Summit Elevation: Bearpen 2555 ft, Long Tom Ridge 2765 ft
Round-trip Distance: 5.0 mi
Elevation Change: 1150 ft

Bearpen

Mile Square

Went for a short hike in the northeastern Adirondacks today. Climbed Mile Square and Claybed mountains in the Hammond Pond Wild Forest. I parked on Ensign Pond Road at a small unmarked parking area (room for 2-3 cars). I grabbed my pack and headed into the woods. It was a short, but steep climb up. The woods were very open and mostly coniferous. It was surprisingly dry with 99% of the snow gone at these low elevations - just a few spots of stubborn snow here and there. There were nice southern views from open rock just south of the top. After tagging the summit, I headed back down in a westerly direction. After reaching the saddle, I continued west up Claybed mountain. No real views from this lowly peak - just some filtered ones through the trees. I headed down in southeast direction. Eventually, I reached an old road, that is now an unmarked hunter or fisherman's path. It lead me right back to the Ensign Pond road. Then, it was a 10 minute walk back to the car.

Summit Elevation: Mile Square 1747 ft, Claybed 1539
Round-trip Distance: 4.0 mi
Elevation Change: 1120 ft

Mile Square

Thacher Park

Feeling under the weather this week, so just did an easy stroll with Benny at Thacher Park today. Parked at Paint Mine Lot and did a loop using mostly the red trail (plus a white trail). Checked out all the small falls that are upstream of the larger Mine Lot Falls. Very warm day - felt like summer! About a 1.5 mile walk.

Thacher

Saugerties

Did a couple of easy walks with Benny this afternoon in Saugerties, NY. The first stop was at the Falling Waters Preserve. Covered all the trails here: Riverside (white), Upland (red) and Father C. Jorn (blue). This was a peaceful place with a couple of small waterfalls and views along the Hudson.

Next stop was just a few miles away at the Esopus Bend Nature Preserve. We did loops on the South (red) and Schroeder (blue) trails.

Altogether, almost 4 miles of easy walking on a sunny but breezy day. Met quite a few other hikers and dogs enjoying the Spring weather.

Saugerties

Bogged down

Went for an easy walk with Benny near Saratoga this afternoon. We walked the Bog Meadow trail - a former railbed that is now a nature trail. We started at the Route 29 trailhead and walked the entire distance - about 4 miles roundtrip. Spring like trail conditions with packed snow, ice, mud, water, etc. Benny found a dead porcupine along the way. Had a nice warm sunny afternoon for our stroll. Unfortunately, tick season has also begun.

Bog Meadow