Sunday, May 31, 2015

Wolf Hollow

What a difference a day makes ... It was about 25 degrees cooler today than Saturday! After a light rain in the morning, I went for a short walk with Benny in the afternoon near Glenville. We walked an abandoned town road through Wolf Hollow. This narrow road parallels Hoffman Hill road and runs through a gorge. It was closed after Hurricane Irene due to flood damage. It is now part of the future Long Path extension and has aqua green markers along the route. The road is still a public thoroughfare, but much of the adjacent land is posted. We walked about 2.2 miles round-trip today with 275 feet of climbing under grey skies.
Wolf Hollow

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Dyken Pond

Got out early today to try and beat the heat. Went for a short walk with Benny at Dyken Pond Center in Rensselaer County. Parked at the main visitor center. Did a clockwise loop using the Abbt Farm (purple), Old Road (purple), Long (white), Otter Creek (yellow/white), and  Shoreline (light blue) trails. Pretty much had the woods to ourselves on this lovely morning. Walked around 2.5 miles.

Dyken Pond

Friday, May 29, 2015

Harris Hill

Went for a short bushwhack hike in the Northeastern Adirondacks today. I climbed Harris Hill in the Hammond Pond Wild Forest. Parked on Ensign Pond Road in a dirt pull-off on north side of road near a road-side memorial. The beginning of the hike was a little tough - had to get around a steep mini knob and through a logged area with some blowdown. Then, I started climbing up the SW ridge of the mountain to the first false peak. It was relatively easy going with mostly open woods and no cliffs or steep parts. Quickly reached the top and then followed the ridge over the second false peak and then the true peak of Harris Hill. There were nice views along the way to the west. Lots of open areas with blueberries on this peak. Had a warm, sunny day for a quick trek in the woods. Luckily, bugs were not too bad.

Summit Elevation:  Harris Hill 2211 ft
Round-trip Distance: 3.5 mi
Elevation Change: 1350 ft
Harris Hill

Monday, May 25, 2015

Papscanee Preserve

Recovering from a head cold, so just did an easy walk this morning with Benny at Papscanee Island Nature Preserve in East Greenbush. Parked at the Staats Island Road trailhead. Followed the Red and Blue trails and then the white trail until the farmer's field before turning around. Lots of birds singing and saw a deer prancing around the woods. Walked almost 2 miles under cloudy skies.


Papscanee

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Prosser Hollow

Went for a short hike early this morning in Rensselaer County. Climbed up to Taconic ridge using the Lower Prosser Hollow trail. This is an old road that is now a foot trail. The bottom part was a bit muddy and rutted from ATVs. Further up, the trail was dryer and in better shape. After an almost continuous climb, I reached the Taconic Crest trail. I turned left and headed north. Passed a nice cut view looking east into Vermont. Continued on as the TCT descended. Soon I reached the unmarked Upper Prosser Hollow trail. I turned left and followed the eroded trail downhill. It became more muddy and overgrown toward the bottom with prickers. I reached a meadow/field and pretty much lost the trail at this point - so, I just headed south. I soon reached the Lower Prosser trail again, not far from the car. Returned a bit scratched up, but no worse for wear.

Round-trip Distance: 3.0 mi
Elevation Change: 1000 ft

Prosser Hollow

Friday, May 15, 2015

Cherry Plain

Left work a little early and did an easy walk with Benny at Cherry Plain State Park/Capital District Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Parked near the campground/park entrance (which was closed). Started out on the blue-marked waterfalls trail. Then took a short red spur trail to the old mill site and some small waterfalls on the Black River. Returned to the blue trail. At one point, the trail crossed the river, but I continued on the old road for a while until it petered out. Then, I backtracked to the crossing and continued on the blue trail on the other side of the river. It eventually lead back to a trailhead on Jiggs Highway. We then followed Miller road back to the car.

Next, we took the Charcoal Trail which starts at the SW corner of the beach parking area. Followed it uphill to a spur trail that dead ended at a charcoal site. Back on the charcoal trail, continued for a while to where it leveled off in a pine plantation. Didn't see anything of note except some rusty barrels.

A very pleasant evening for a stroll. Some mosquitoes were out, but a dash of DEET took care of them. Walked about 3 miles altogether.

Cherry Plain SP

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Pine Hill

Went for an off-trail adventure in the Adirondacks today to climb another forlorn mountain. Drove on the gravel Charlie Hollow road (off Charlie Hill road) until the last house/camp. I parked here and then continued walking west on the dirt road (also a snowmobile trail). When I reached State land boundary, I left the road and headed south and down to Alder brook. Rock hopped across the creek and then hiked up the north side of Pine Hill. I reached a band of cliffs around elev. 1400. After a steep climb, made it to the top of them and had some nice early views to the north and west. Continued on up and reached a clearing with a view to the east. Eventually, I reached the false summit (elev. 2076). From here, I travelled east to the true peak. There were survey bolts/anchors at the rocky top, so this must have been a survey station back in the day. I ventured around the east and southern sides just below the top, to check out all the views from the clearings. The black flies at this point were swarming, but not biting. Had a very pleasant day for my trek in the woods - lots of sun and nice breeze at times.

Summit Elevation: Pine Hill 2187 ft
Round-trip Distance: 6.0 mi
Elevation Change: 1600 ft
Pine Hill

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Happy birthday!

Hard to believe, but this blog turns ten years old this month!


Saturday, May 09, 2015

Amy's Park

Went on a short hike this morning with Benny near Lake George. We visited Amy's Park just north of Bolton Landing. Parked on Trout Falls road. Took the red trail up to the lookout on the shoulder of High Nopit. Followed the yellow trail back down and then the road back to the car. Also, explored the area around the beaver ponds a bit. A warm, breezy day for Benny's Adirondack adventure. Some bugs out, but not too terrible (yet!). Walked about 2 miles altogether with 450 feet of climbing.
Amys Park

Thursday, May 07, 2015

Cattle mountain

Climbed another obscure peak in the Southern Adirondacks. From looking at satellite images, I thought that Cattle mountain might have some views from its southern false peak. So, I went out today to check it out. Drove down Pumpkin Hollow road off Route 30. Parked near Willis Lake, since the road was closed beyond this point. I walked the remaining portion of the dirt road - about 1.5 miles. It was rutted in a few places and had one blowdown, but was not too bad. Reached the summer parking area, and the bridge over Doig creek. After crossing it, I followed a hunters path that lead north. It was unmarked, but easy to follow. After a bit, it crossed Doig creek where the creek turned east, and continued north along the western base of Cattle mountain. After almost a mile, it petered out. I checked out a beaver meadow just west of the path. I was hoping to spot the open areas on Cattle mountain. From this angle, it didn't looking promising, but I persevered. Climbed up the west side of the peak to the southern false summit. I reached the open areas and found nice views to west and south. I continued north along the ridge to the true peak and a bit beyond before returning. Black flies are starting to making an appearance, but not annoying yet. Quite warm and sunny day. Almost felt like going for a swim in Willis Lake if the water was a bit warmer.

Summit Elevation: Cattle 2129 ft
Round-trip Distance: 6.0 mi
Elevation Change: 1200 ft
Cattle mountain

Saturday, May 02, 2015

Barton High Cliffs

Went for another hike in the Adirondacks today. Visited Barton High Cliffs in the Pharaoh Lake Wilderness. Parked on NY Route 8 at a scenic pull-off. Walked five minutes back down the road to a small creek (a branch of Swede Pond brook). Started my bushwhack here, following the creek uphill to a level area. It was a bit swampy here with a bunch of blowdown. I continued north along the east side of Brace Hill. Eventually I veered off and started climbing the unnamed hill (elev. 1910) that the cliffs are on. I got a little too far up and had to climb back down to the cliffs. It was an easy traverse along the tops of the cliffs to the east end. That were lots of views along the way. Dropped down the east side into the valley a bit too far. Had to climb back up to the area below the cliffs. I climbed partway up the hill to the north and traversed across. There were nice views from open areas of the cliffs overhead. At one point, I dropped down into the notch to check out the boulder field. There was still snow here and it was significantly cooler. It was too difficult try to make my way through the boulders, so I went around them to the north. Eventually I reached a branch of Spuytenduivel brook. I followed it uphill, and then back down the other side to Route 8 again. Warm, sunny day for a little off-trail adventure.

Round-trip Distance: 5.5 mi
Elevation Change: 1300 ft
Barton High Cliffs

Friday, May 01, 2015

Lisha Kill

Went for a leisurely stroll at Lisha Kill Preserve after work with Benny. Followed the Frank's and Grattan Family trails. About a 1.6 mile walk.